Bordeaux have this afternoon announced that Jean-Didier Lange, who was club president from 1991 to 1999, passed away last night at the age of 75.
Lange bought the club out, along with the support of businessman Alain Afflelou when it had been placed under administration and relegated to the second division. Within the first year of their co-presidency, the club would return to the first tier of French football.
His reign would notably see the likes of Zinédine Zidane, Christophe Dugarry and Bixente Lizarazu come through the academy, as well as a famous run to the UEFA Cup final in 1996 which included a 3-0 win over AC Milan.
His presidency culminated in a the 1998/99 Ligue 1 title win, then with Jean-Louis Triaud as co-president. Lange would remain involved with Bordeaux until this summer as a minority shareholder and as part of the club’s council of administrators.