Gérard Bourgoin, Former AJ Auxerre President, Dies at 85

The influential businessman and football executive suffered a fatal cardiac arrest after attending Auxerre's match against Strasbourg.

Gérard Bourgoin, known as the 'king of poultry,' built a successful agro-industrial empire before becoming a key figure in French football.
He served as vice-president of AJ Auxerre from 1978 to 2000, playing a crucial role in the club's rise to prominence, including its 1996 Ligue 1 title and multiple French Cup victories.
Bourgoin also held the presidency of the Ligue Nationale de Football from 2000 to 2002 and returned briefly as Auxerre's president from 2011 to 2013.
In addition to his football career, Bourgoin was a politician, serving as mayor of Chailley for over 30 years and briefly leading the Centre national des indépendants et paysans party.
He passed away following a cardiac arrest while driving home from Auxerre's match, leaving behind a legacy marked by both professional achievements and personal controversies.