Strong emotion at OM after the death of Pape Diouf, swept away by the coronavirus

For some, he was "Pope", for others a "father", "uncle" or "mentor". Tributes multiplied on Tuesday evening after the death of Pope Diouf. The former president of Olympique de Marseille died in Dakar of the coronavirus at 68 years of age. The emotion is particularly strong for the former OM players, whom Diouf had brought back to the heights between 2005 and 2009, as well as in Senegal. The big football family in mourning, less than a week after the death of Michel Hidalgo.

"One of the great craftsmen of the history of the club"

“Olympique de Marseille learned with great sadness of the death of Pape Diouf. Pope will remain forever in the hearts of Marseillais as one of the great craftsmen of the history of the club. Our condolences to his family and loved ones, ”writes the club. From PSG to Lyon via Bordeaux, all the L1 clubs paid tribute to one of its "greatest presidents".

Olympique de Marseille learned with great sadness of the death of Pape Diouf.

Pope will remain forever in the hearts of Marseillais as one of the great craftsmen of the history of the club.

Our condolences to his family and loved ones.🖤 pic.twitter.com/w9KyE45JMA

The @PSG_inside offers its condolences to the family and loved ones of Pape Diouf, as well as to the @ OM_Officiel. The Club brings them all its thoughts of support and solidarity in these painful moments at a time when French and African football is losing a great figure.

We have a touched thought for Pape Diouf, his relatives and all those who knew him. He will remain forever among the great Presidents of @ Ligue1Conforama https://t.co/F6PpXb9lE8

Olympique Lyonnais offers its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Pape Diouf who was a great president of French football. #RIP pic.twitter.com/wd7YlTxCN5

"He called me" son "I called him" father ""

"You have always been a mentor, you have been my first agent, you have been my president and it is with a heavy heart that I must say goodbye to you." You left too early, I will never forget you, ”writes Samir Nasri, who signed with Diouf at the age of 13. The Senegalese Mamadou Niang, who knew the whole Diouf era at OM, scoring more than 100 goals between 2005 and 2010, is particularly touched: “You were a model for me. Know that you will remain forever in my heart Pope. I love you ". "He called me" son "I called him" father "he was my agent, my president, but above all an exceptional man for me. My tribute to you Pope would not fit in a tweet. Thank you, ”writes Habib Beye, an Olympian between 2003 and 2007.

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Few people in the world of football have touched me or had an impact like you may have had in my life or in my career. You have always been a mentor, you have been my first agent, you have been my president and it is with a heavy heart that I must say goodbye. You left too early, I will never forget you.

A post shared by Samir Nasri (@ samnasri8) on Mar 31, 2020 at 2:37 pm PDT

It is with great sadness that I have just learned that the Pope has left us. My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones. You were the best of us and a role model for me. Know that You will remain forever in my heart Pope. I love you ❤️ #papediouf #marseille 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/LPBZ1DMhy0

He called me "son" I called him "father" he was my agent, my president, but above all an exceptional man for me. My tribute to you Pope would not fit in a tweet. Thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/F4HOqrTRAV

Basile Boli, Franck Ribéry, Djibril Cissé ... The entire Marseille family is an orphan.

Pope has been my guardian angel throughout my career, a very fine friend.

I will forever miss her unique voice 💙🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/Q7badrw3dV

Deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Pope Diouf. 😔
All our thoughts and prayers to his family. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/2FEE7zOaez

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 pic.twitter.com/8qm0bijnJB

Very sad to learn of the disappearance of Pape Diouf ... he will leave a unique memory in Marseille. Thoughts moved for his family and loved ones 🙏🏻🖤 pic.twitter.com/hS6uTQhwHg

Rest in peace #PapeDiouf ❤ pic.twitter.com/Y062vb4S4n

"A great figure on the African continent"

Senegalese President Macky Sall praised “this great figure of sport, this great committed leader and eminence gray of football. To his family, I offer, on behalf of the nation, my deepest condolences ”.

I learned with emotion of the death of Pape Diouf.
I pay tribute to this great figure in sport, this great committed leader and the eminence of gray football. To his family, I offer, on behalf of the nation, my deepest condolences.

Sad day for the world of football and much more.
We cry a great journalist, a great president, a great agent, a great gentleman, a great brother, a spiritual father. An example for many of us. A great figure on the African continent is gone. RIP PAPE DIOUF 🤲🏿❤️ pic.twitter.com/xp0EhDyrV9

A lot of sadness when learning of the death of Pape Diouf ... A great President but above all a huge Man, who will always have worthily represented OM and its values. A great loss for French football and the African continent. Rest in peace 💙 pic.twitter.com/3lqI7VksOv

For many players, like Bafé Gomis, Pape Diouf embodied "a great figure on the African continent" and his rise to the presidency of a club was a success story that is still an exception. “I am the only black president of a club in Europe. This is a painful observation, "regretted Pape Diouf in an interview with Jeune Afrique in 2008, but, he considered," like European society and, above all, French, which excludes ethnic minorities ".

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