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Ah, Jean-Michel Aulas… Here is a name that resonates strongly in Lyon and beyond. Born on March 22, 1949, the guy will be almost 76 in 2025, but he has this incredible punch, this energy one wouldn’t necessarily expect at his age. A rather tall man too, around 1.80 meters, and clearly not the type to get tired easily.
You probably know him as the legendary former boss of Olympique Lyonnais, the club that exploded under his leadership. But before all that, he got into entrepreneurship, aiming to make a name for himself in business. Not an easy start, far from it, but he knew how to take risks, open doors and above all believe in his projects, even when everyone doubted.
Speaking of projects, now Jean-Michel has launched himself into local politics. Yes, you read that right, he is playing the municipal card in Lyon with a clear ambition: to shake up the political landscape. His latest bold move is about the metropolitan budget, which he challenges, along with his running mate Véronique Sarselli, who does not mince her words. Watch out, it’s heating up!
And it doesn’t stop there, he is also in the fight for the 2026 municipal elections, with this reputation of a strong man and an insatiable fighter. Honestly, following this guy is like watching a political and sports soap opera at the same time, with constant twists and a real will to make things move.
Who is Jean-Michel Aulas? A look at his identity and origins
Originally from L’Arbresle in the Rhône, he is a true local man, even if his fame goes far beyond regional borders. His life is a kind of novel where sport, entrepreneurship and now politics intertwine. His journey tells the story of an adopted Lyonnais who deeply wants to shape his city.
He doesn’t hide behind grand titles: he is above all a businessman, with an all-terrain vision, and a sports leader who put OL on the European map. In the public sphere, he is seen as an essential figure, sometimes controversial, but never trivial.
Jean-Michel Aulas is also a husband and father, discreet but committed. His private life does not attract much attention, but one senses in him a certain stability behind the strong public image. He is a pragmatic man, calm but who knows how to make himself heard when needed.
At 76, he certainly doesn’t slow down, on the contrary: it’s as if he wants to prove that age is just a number, a kick in local political news, mixing passion and controversy.
A career before fame: from entrepreneurship to sports conquest
You know, before becoming the living god of OL, Aulas worked hard! He started his company, Cegid, a firm specialized in management software. There, he really learned to fight, negotiate, and carve out a place in a world much harsher than football or politics.
He understood quickly that success is earned around a negotiation table as well as on a football field. Then, in 1987, he made a crazy bet: to buy Olympique Lyonnais. For some, it was a risky bet. For him, a real challenge. And there, honestly, he exploded everything in the 2000s.
OL became a model club, French champion several times, with sharp management and an international vision. Jean-Michel has that push to always aim higher, stronger, and it paid off.
Besides, he remains very attached to the Lyon region and started investing in the local economic fabric, as if he wanted to show everyone that success is possible in the region without necessarily going to the other side of the world.
Jean-Michel Aulas’s major successes: between sport and local politics
Well, let’s not lie, his biggest achievement remains transforming OL into a huge winning and money-generating machine. He’s a bit like the Steve Jobs of French football, with his avant-garde ideas and his flair for spotting talents (yes, even Benzema, that’s him).
But today, he is mostly in the municipal spotlight, and that’s eye-opening! He fiercely criticizes the current management of the metropolis, especially the 2026 budget which he finds completely disconnected from economic reality. With Véronique Sarselli, they outright demanded an independent audit and strengthened legality control over the adopted budget.
It’s not just to make noise, they denounce for example an “explosion of operating expenses” and a tax pressure on businesses and individuals that is soaring, which they totally reject. In short, they want a real cleanup, healthier and more transparent management.
That said, the green camp responds sharply. So the debate is fierce, and the entire metropolis is under tension. It’s a crucial moment for Lyon: between opposing visions, the match is tighter than a football final.
His private life and some unexpected anecdotes
Nothing very juicy on the left, but some nice little things anyway. For example, Aulas is not the type to argue without reason, but you surely saw him a bit tense during the last municipal elections, where he went straight into direct confrontation with the current team.
It seems he likes fishing, an activity he practices to decompress after busy days. And then, his attachment to Lyon, his love for the Rhône and the Saône, it’s true, you feel it in all his statements.
He also has this ability to combine his business sense with a pragmatic political vision, which works quite well for him. But I admit, you have to follow his news to not get lost between controversies, outbursts and his multiple projects.
His latest move is the proposal of an urban forest for Lyon, a project that got people talking. A nice idea but which, as usual, also creates debate around the numbers and real ambitions. That’s Jean-Michel, always ready to throw a stone in the pond!
Recent projects and burning news around Jean-Michel Aulas
In 2025, he is at the heart of the campaign for municipal elections in Lyon, with growing support, especially from the centrist block. Polls give him a comfortable lead, which only strengthens his ambitions and tough talk.
His fight focuses on several axes: parity, attractiveness of Lyon, and the struggle for stricter budget management. He promises to give up his mayor’s allowances, a gesture aimed at emphasizing his sincere commitment, as noted by Tribune de Lyon.
And he’s not alone, his lead candidate Véronique Sarselli doesn’t give up either. They demand independent audits to assess the current majority’s ecological policies, with criticisms on the low effectiveness of adopted measures.
Following the requested audit, the green majority promises a calmer debate, but tensions remain palpable. It is also the moment when Jean-Michel dismantles certain proposals of the outgoing mayor, Grégory Doucet, which clearly shows that the campaign will be tough.
The key points of the political battle led by Jean-Michel Aulas in Lyon
- 📊 Challenging the 2026 metropolitan budget for its “insincerity”
- ⚖️ Request for an independent audit on environmental policies
- 💰 denouncing the increase in tax pressure on businesses and households
- 🌳 Project to create an urban forest to improve quality of life
- 👥 Support from the right and center, coalition under the banner Grand Coeur lyonnais
The mix between politics and football is clearly his trademark. In 2025, with his experience, he appears as a major player on the Lyon political chessboard. You can discover more details on his fights and profile on Le Figaro Lyon or even Wikipedia for a complete overview.
