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Sylvinho and junhino, respectively coach and sports director of Olympique Lyonnais. Photo: Olympique Lyonnais

Olympique Lyonnais reorganized its sports policy around Juninho. The former glory of Lyon, which has participated in 344 meetings with gones, is back in a new role. He appointed the coach himself: Sylvinho.

The idol of the club in the 2000s came back. The Olympique Lyonnais turned to Juninho, the best player in the history of the Rhone club and the idol of the 2000s, to write a new page of its existence. The new sports director of OL, which is the first experience as a leader, will have to give a smile to the fans, not soft with the former coach Bruno Genesio, and to relieve the president Jean-Michel Aulas, always in first line at 70 years old. " I will remain attentive, but I really take a step back, " says Aulas in the columns of L'Équipe . What to transmit a part of the torch to the Brazilian.

Reshape a disorganized workforce

" He will have almost all sports responsibilities, which will do me a little good, " admits Aulas about the former offensive midfielder. " It was important to listen to everyone, to listen to the consultants, the supporters. But in fine , when you have 32 years of experience with a lot of titles, it gives strength in the choices. When we made the decision to convince Juni to join us, it was with the certainty that the fans would join us, but it was also with a certainty in the heart that we would succeed, "said the president lyonnais last July.

Since his departure in 2009, legendary free kick shooter Juninho has never broken the deep connection he has with OL. The native of Recife, who announced his retirement on January 30, 2014, the day of his thirty-nine years, ended his playing career in Brazil with Vasco da Gama.

Juninho, whose two youngest daughters were born in Lyon, won on the bench his Brazilian compatriot Sylvinho, a newcomer to the job (45), and launched the big maneuvers to reshape a staff turned upside down by the departures of Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Tanguy Ndombélé (Tottenham) and Nabil Fekir (Betis Sevilla ).

Be in the Champions League at the end of the season

OL have recruited Thiago Mendes and Youssouf Koné (Malian international) in Lille, as well as Jean Lucas (Flamengo) and Joachim Andersen (Sampdoria) in particular. " The president (Jean-Michel Aulas) asked me only one thing: to be in the Champions League at the end of the season. Time will tell it for the other goals. You have to work, "said Sylvinho, former Tite deputy of the A in Brazil who had just been named coach of the Olympic team.

A humanist from the left, in love with France, whose nationality he also has, Juninho - who has fiercely opposed the ideas of Jair Bolsonaro, the current president of Brazil (far right) - should have a benevolent eye on the work of his compatriot. By bringing back the idol of fans, OL plays big in case of failure and Juninho - who had won his last title in 2008 with OL - too.

During their last meeting of preparation against Bournemouth, the Lyonnais lost 3-0. Olympique Lyonnais launches its Ligue 1 season on Friday 9 August against Monaco.