The grapes of wrath. Why Bordeaux's demise stirs such anger.
St-Emilion, Medoc and Pomerol were often prominent names on trips to Bordeaux to cover games almost as much as Zidane, Micoud and Wiltord. One Champions League visit with Manchester United in 2000 involved a spectacular lunch on match day laid on by the club and the mayor for the travelling English media that risked us missing kick-off. The pride in the region was matched by pride in the team, Les Girondins.
Going to Bordeaux was always a treat, one of many reasons to mourn news that the famous French club has filed for bankruptcy and been relegated to the third tier following withdrawal of FSG’s takeover interest and potential rescue package. The club graced by an early-career Zinedine Zidane, Alain Giresse during the club’s 1980s pomp and a late-career Marius Tresor are now in the semi-professional Championnat National.
The city’s mayor, Pierre Hurmic, castigated the owner, Gerard Lopez, for his “risky management” that has seen Bordeaux tumble from Ligue 1 to amateur level in three years. Former players waded in. “I feel extremely sick like everyone who loves the club," Bixente Lizarazu lamented on Instagram. “What's happening is unfortunately the result of disastrous football and financial management for many years.”
One fan tweeted, “A monument to French and European football will disappear amid general indifference.” Others rallied behind Bordeaux, fans of other clubs saying they did not share that “general indifference”. Bordeaux’s plight harms all French football. If we tolerate this, other clubs will be next. Financial mismanagement? Unpopular owner? English football will feel a sense of déjà vu. Youth players are being released, dreams put on hold. The few stars will also go. It’s a disaster for French football and for a proud city. Vintage vineyards, club plonked amongst amateurs.