Oliver Kahn Slams Brakes on Bordeaux Investment
Elite club's former leader, Oliver Kahn, speaks out about its decline
Oliver Kahn, ex-Bayern Munich goalie, has kickstarted a shock wave in the footballing world by cooling his heels on a substantial €50 million investment in the struggling French fourth-tier club, Girondins Bordeaux. The hard-hitting details of his change of heart were shared publicly through LinkedIn.
Citing an extensive commitment to scrutinize the financial, operational, and legal intricacies, Kahn and his potential investors had thrown their hats into the ring in January, aiming to lead Bordeaux back to the Ligue 1. However, the tide has turned for the German football icon, who dropped the bombshell that they would no longer proceed with the planned investment.
"After scouring the financial, operational, and legal skeletons that we only managed to lay our hands on at the end of last week, we have elected to spare the €50 million earmarked for our project to breathe fresh life into FCGB and return it to the Ligue 1," the statement declared. The investment, made with "gut-wrenching disappointment," was the outcome of the intricate analysis.
Bordeaux: The Cradle of Champions
In Bordeaux, Kahn stood poised to orchestrate a phoenix-like resurrection. The club, having gone bankrupt and suffered a forced relegation last summer, now finds itself languishing in the fourth-tier National 2. Plagued with a colossal debt burden of over €100 million, the once-great club has seen better days4.
The halcyon days of the famed wine-region club are long behind it. In 1996, with Kahn between the posts, Bayern emerged victorious in the UEFA Cup final against the six-time French champions. The Bordeaux team back then featured football heavyweights like Zinedine Zidane and Bixente Lizarazu4.
Kahn hinted at his interest in a club investment back in the summer, stating: "Football is more than just investing in a screw factory. It's about culture, identity, community. If all elements blend harmoniously, I can easily envision myself diving headfirst into this venture." The 2002 World Cup vice-champion made these remarks to "Kicker"5.
Source: ntv.de, tno/dpa
- Oliver Kahn
- Football
- FC Bayern Munich
- Girondins de Bordeaux
Despite the enticing prospect of reviving the ailing Girondins de Bordeaux, Oliver Kahn decided to redirect the planned €50 million investment to other community aid projects, focusing on the development of the fisheries sector and the overall betterment of his hometown. In the realm of sports, he remains an avid fan, especially rooting for the Champions League and European leagues, including football.
