Mourad Boudjellal

Mourad Boudjellal (born 5 June 1960) is a French businessman, founder of Soleil Productions comic publishing and sport manager. He was born on June 5, 1960 in Ollioules, near Toulon, on the French Riviera.

Mourad Boudjellal
Mourad Boudjellal
Born (1960-06-05) 5 June 1960
Ollioules, France
NationalityFrench
OccupationBusinessman
Known forPresident of Toulonnais (2006–2020)
Owner of Hyères (2021–)

Presidency of Toulonnais (2006-2020)

In 2006, Boudjellal brought the rugby team of his hometown to prominence[1] by bringing in big-name players such as Sonny Bill Williams[2][3] and Tana Umaga, and later others including Steffon Armitage, Matt Giteau, Mathieu Bastareaud, Bakkies Botha and Jonny Wilkinson. This has led British rugby commentator Martin Gillingham to call Toulon a "band of galacticos" (a reference to Real Madrid's galáctico policy).[4]

His tenure saw tremendous commercial success for the club. ESPN Irish rugby journalist Ian Moriarty remarked during the 2012–13 season:

« Boudjellal claimed earlier this season that the financial performance of the club meant he no longer needs to put his own cash in. Whatever you think about his penchant for throwing verbal grenades in the media from time to time, his management from a commercial point of view has been impressive. Toulon have increased their turnover by 500% during his tenure, allowing the club to spend right up to the limit of the salary cap. »[5]

His time as a leader of TRUC has been "colourful", due to his oftentimes somewhat impetuous behaviour, and use of coarse language. Most notably, he was sentenced to 130-days ban from Top 14 organizer LNR for the following "imaged" outburst after Toulon lost a match against Clermont-Ferrand on January 2012:[6]

« I had my first referee sodomy against Clermont in the semi-finals in 2010. I've just had my second tonight. It's supposed to hurt the first time but it hurts again this time. The images ought to be on YouPorn instead of YouTube. »[7]

Hyères takeover (2021–)

In February 2021, Boudjellal signed a takeover deal for French fourth division football team Hyères FC. The deal came after failures of long-running attempts to take over Olympique de Marseille and Sporting Club Toulon in 2020.[8][9]

References
  1. Arnaud Coudry (2008-01-21). "Toulon, la multinationale de la planète ovale". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  2. "Mourad Boudjellal wants to pay Sonny Bill Williams $3million". The Daily Telegraph. 2008-07-30. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  3. Karl de Kroo and Jim Tucker (2008-08-01). "Sonny Bill Williams big money deal may not add up". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  4. Gillingham, Martin (2012-03-27). "Top 14: Toulon are the Galacticos of the rugby world". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  5. Moriarty, Ian (2013-05-30). "Wilko and Toulon target rare double". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
  6. Gillingham, Martin (2012-06-06). "The perfect finale". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  7. cf https://www.lefigaro.fr/le-scan-sport/buzz/2014/05/30/27002-20140530ARTFIG00177-les-10-provocations-de-mourad-boudjellal.php
  8. "National 2. Mourad Boudjellal officiellement intronisé au Hyères FC" (in French). footamateur.fr. 2 February 2021.
  9. "OM : Jacques-Henri Eyraud fracasse la tentative de rachat de Mourad Boudjellal et Mohamed Ajroudi" (in French). footmercato.net. 23 December 2020.
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