"We're here for him": in Marseille, supporters say goodbye to Bernard Tapie

Frédéric Michel, edited by Gauthier Delomez 8:19 pm, October 07, 2021, modified at 9:28 pm, October 07, 2021

A tribute to the height of the "boss".

The Marseillais salute the memory of Bernard Tapie, former leader of the Olympique de Marseille and lover of the Mediterranean city, who died at the age of 78 last Sunday as a result of cancer.

Thousands of supporters came to the Stade Vélodrome on Thursday for a penultimate farewell to the "boss", this Parisian by birth now revered for having led the club to the roof of European football in 1993. The final won by OM was moreover was rebroadcast on giant screens, then the coffin of Bernard Tapie was presented after the decisive goal of Basile Boli.

Europe 1 attended the tribute to Bernard Tapie.

The coffin enters the lawn, under the silence of the crowd

About 4,000 supporters flocked to the lower part of the Jean-Bouin stand at the Stade Vélodrome for a din worthy of a match night. On the giant screens parade the goal of Basile Boli of the final of 1993, the images of the Olympian president Bernard Tapie, his tears at the final whistle… This tribute is held in the presence of the family of the ex-manager, and the players current OM. On the lawn, a funeral wreath and several sprays of white flowers are arranged. The funeral convoy enters the field, under the silence of the crowd. Only the blue and white scarves are proudly waved.

A procession of representatives of groups of supporters carries Bernard Tapie's coffin and places it in the center of the lawn. While the club's traditional music,

, by Van Halen

sounds

, we hear pre-matches. The members of the procession then embrace the coffin on which is placed a golden replica of the cup with large ears. In the middle of the supporters, in the stands, smoke bombs came out and a drawn portrait of the former businessman with, in caption, "Our boss". The last visit of the former OM leader to the Vélodrome ends under the air of

, played soberly on the violins. An intense and moving moment for the thousands of supporters who applauded this last phase of the tribute.

"We are there for him, he rocked all our years"

"Mr. Tapie, he is a multifaceted man. He gave us a star. Look at the world who comes to thank him", exclaims Pascale, a spectator present this Thursday.

"It's a vibrant tribute. But it's also a party. It's wonderful this unison, and there is everyone, all ages," she said on Europe 1.

"We are there for him, we are there for his family. We are there because he decided to be buried here. He is the first of the adopted Marseillais who adore Marseille. We are there for him, he rocked all our beautiful years ", confesses the supporter of OM.

For her, obviously impossible to miss this meeting.

"We wanted to thank him for this 1993 star, Boli's tears, everything. Thank you!" She said to the former manager of the Marseille club.

On Friday, mass will take place from 11 a.m. in La Major cathedral.

Bernard Tapie will then be buried in the cemetery of Mazargues, in the southern districts of Marseille.