
<p>Following his departure from Chelsea last year, Graham Potter was widely expected to find a new management position.</p>



<p>After leading the Blues for just seven months, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelsea-sack-graham-potter-after-poor-run-of-form-20230402-WST-426393.html">Chelsea sacked the Englishman</a> with the club struggling for results. Graham Potter floated as an idea to replace current Lyon boss Laurent Blanc. Blanc is under mounting pressure due to Lyon’s dismal start to the 2023/24 campaign. </p>



<p>Before the game against <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a>, the French daily L’Equipe stated that the former France manager’s job at the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-owners-plan-lyon-to-become-first-soccer-spac-to-go-public-20230118-WST-415982.html">Groupama Stadium</a> would be at risk if his club loses. After a crushing 4-1 defeat, Lyon finds itself in the red lantern and is already exploring replacement options for Blanc.</p>



<h5>Potter turns down Ligue 1 job</h5>



<p>The Englishman has been in the running to replace coach Laurent Blanc. Potter met with Lyon owner John Textor on Tuesday, according to <a href="https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Article/Graham-potter-cible-par-l-ol-pour-succeder-a-laurent-blanc/1418336" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>L’Equipe</em></a>. Also, <a href="https://theathletic.com/4841129/2023/09/07/graham-potter-lyon-approach-decline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The Athletic</em></a> notes Potter saw the managerial opening as a chance to lead a storied team with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Champions League</a> aspirations.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lyon&apos;s fans were LIVID with the team following their 4-1 defeat to PSG!<br><br>This is unprecedented! 💥😲 <a href="https://t.co/dixA9TwRPE">pic.twitter.com/dixA9TwRPE</a></p>— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) <a href="https://twitter.com/primevideosport/status/1698727114713821597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Ultimately, the 48-year-old determined that it was not the appropriate moment to relocate his family to France. Now did he want to return to club management. However, the report adds that he will continue to weigh his options.</p>



<h2>Who will Lyon target next after Graham Potter denial?</h2>



<p>Lyon is in last place in Ligue 1 after a winless start to the season. After four games, Lyon has one draw and three defeats. The team hoped Potter would lead the way in turning things around. </p>



<p>Nonetheless, the club is now on the lookout for a replacement after the English boss turned their offer down. Who they’ll approach to fill the head coaching vacancy is still a mystery. Blanc’s potential alternatives are Thiago Motta and William Still, as per <a href="https://www.90min.com/posts/ex-chelsea-manager-graham-potter-rejects-lyon-job" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">90min</a>. Marcelo Gallardo was also considered, but he turned down a contract offer from the French club.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Bildbyran</em></p>


Ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter offered new job, reply revealed

After being unemployed since April, former Chelsea manager Graham Potter has been offered a position in France.


<p>US investor John Textor completed a takeover at Olympique Lyonnais. Textor previously purchased a minority stake in the French club this past summer. However, further investment has taken the businessman’s holdings in the team from 40% to 78%. This means that he now has control at the club.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/2fcdf81d-2abb-4ece-8ede-2a9775a09c35" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Financial Times</a></em> is reporting that the deal was finalized for around $940 million. The news outlet also claims that the investment group could soon go back to buy the remaining 22% of the club.</p>



<p>Lyon are now the fourth team that Textor currently has stake in. The American also owns 40% of Crystal Palace, 90% of Botafogo, and 80% in Belgian side RWD Molenbeek. All four purchases have been made in the last 18 months. Following the Lyon announcement, Textor claimed that it will be a new chapter for the <a href="https://www.worldsoccertalk.com/ligue-un-tv-schedule">Ligue 1</a> team.</p>



<h2>US investor takes over Olympique Lyonnais</h2>



<p>“Today represents a new beginning for Olympique Lyonnais,” <a href="https://www.ol.fr/en/news/closing-of-the-transactions-with-eagle-football" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> Textor. “After four months of constructive negotiations marked by a common understanding with Jean-Michel Aulas and all our partners, we are proud to reach this exceptional agreement.”&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🚨 Une nouvelle histoire débute aujourd&apos;hui 🔴🔵<br><br>OL Groupe a le plaisir de confirmer que la réalisation des opérations avec Eagle Football a maintenant eu lieu</p>— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) <a href="https://twitter.com/OL/status/1604885325175787529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>“It will be a milestone in the history of European and international soccer development, thanks to the combination within one structure, Eagle Football, of our interests in football clubs with a rich culture and decades of experience: Olympique Lyonnais, Crystal Palace, Botafogo, and RWD Molenbeek.”</p>



<h2>Aulas remaining with Lyon despite sale</h2>



<p>Aulas has been the owner and president of Lyon since 1987. He is widely regarded to be a tough negotiator in transfer talks. Despite the takeover, Textor has made it clear that Aulas will remain with the club.</p>



<p>“Eagle Football, in which Jean-Michel Aulas will be an independent director, intends to quickly implement collaboration across its clubs notably in France, Brazil and Belgium, linking on training and development methodologies of Olympique Lyonnais, a reference in the field.”</p>



<p>“The conditions are therefore right for us to work together, with Jean-Michel, on<em> </em>sports, organization and infrastructure issues. He will keep the operational management of Olympique Lyonnais for at least three years and will remain surrounded by his team.”</p>



<p>Lyon is one of the biggest teams in France. They have collected seven top fight division titles during their illustrious history. Nevertheless, the club is currently in a bit of a downward trend. Lyon is eighth in the Ligue 1 table at the moment, a spot where they finished the previous campaign.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PanoramiC</em></p>


US businessman John Textor, an investor, purchased a controlling stake in Olympique Lyonnais. The club becomes his latest soccer investment.

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Ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter offered new job, reply revealed

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US investor takes over Olympique Lyonnais