LIFE is never dull where volatile Olympique Marseille owner Bernard
Tapie is concerned. Whether assuming the role of millionaire
entrepreneur, Socialist MP, or the football club's president, Tapie's
rags-to-riches career has proved a source of intrigue.
He made a financial killing by buying ailing companies and
transforming them into profitable concerns. Everything he touched turned
to gold and today he owns some 50 firms and can boast a personal fortune
of #100m.
In 1985 Tapie was invited to take over cash-starved Marseille. Debts
were mounting and the side was struggling to avoid relegation, but the
tycoon accepted the challenge.
Over the next six years Tapie splashed out over #30m and he received a
substantial return on his investment. Marseille completed a league and
cup double in 1989 and added further championship victories in 1990, 91,
and 92.
Yet, despite his team's dominance, Tapie's desire to see Marseille
lift a European trophy has been frustrated.
Tapie has been beset by other problems. Earlier this year, charges of
alleged business malpractices -- which have since been dropped -- forced
him to resign as France's Minister for Urban Affairs, and it is reported
that both his holding company, Groupe Bernard Tapie and Olympique
Marseille are in dire straits.
If Tapie dismisses such stories as the work of his political enemies,
his soccer team's indifferent league form so far this season must be a
very real concern for him.
Alarm bells began to ring when Marseille lost to Bordeaux and Nantes.
Tapie could take no more and ordered players and coaches to a post-match
crisis meeting.
''We are three months into the season and we have not yet settled on
the best tactical system to adopt,'' he stormed. ''If we do not beat St
Etienne at home next week our players can sleep at the ground.''
Although St Etienne were duly beaten, subsequent disappointing draws
were the final straw for Tapie, and last week he replaced coach Jean
Fernandez. Until Tapie's European Cup ambition is fulfilled, security of
tenure for Marseille management and players will remain the stuff of
dreams.
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