Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly became the third main shareholder of FC Versailles, which plays in National 1, this Monday.
A Formula 1 driver and shareholder of a football club! This is rare enough to be reported, but this Monday, Pierre Gasly, the French driver of the Alpine team, was inducted as the third shareholder of the Versailles club, which plays in National 1.
“We were looking for a high-level French athlete who shares our values to gain visibility in France and internationally and improve our performances, gain marginal gains,” explains club president Alexandre Mulliez to Parisian. We had checked off a list of around ten names. But we didn't need to go any further. From our first meeting, Pierre immediately clicked. He will bring us his very high level knowledge, his humility. It fits perfectly into our target, 15-25 year olds. It's someone who obviously speaks to them. I am certain that our collaboration will be fruitful.
Gasly: “The beginning of a very beautiful story”
Currently tenth in the standings, FC Versailles is three points ahead of the first relegation place, but is aiming for Ligue 2 in the medium term. The club moved up to National 1 in 2022, the year of its great epic in the Coupe de France (semi-final lost in Nice). It was at the time owned by the real estate group Fiducim-City. But last summer, it was Alexandre Mulliez, the grandson of the founder of the Auchan group, who became the majority shareholder of the Yvelines club.
“I am delighted to get involved with FC Versailles because I have always wanted to get involved in professional football,” reacted Pierre Gasly. With Alexandre and Fabien (Lazare, Mulliez's right-hand man, editor's note), we share values, ambition and a keen competitive spirit which will allow us to positively develop the club. This is the start of a very beautiful story. »
Gasly fan of PSG
A big fan of PSG, Pierre Gasly hopes to find time to attend the home matches of FC Versailles, which are relocated to the Jean-Bouin stadium, next to the Parc des Princes, due to the non-approval of the Montbauron stadium (7,500 seats ). The Versailles stadium does not have adequate lighting, due to a decree from the Buildings of France which stipulates that “no source of light must be visible from the king's bedroom within a radius of five kilometers . » However, the enclosure is located less than a kilometer from the castle.
“It’s not the biggest financial commitment of my life as an entrepreneur,” recognizes Pierre Gasly in the columns of The Team. On the other hand, it is above all the one that emotionally engages me the most. Above all, it's a passion project for me, to create something solid in terms of training, and women's football too. » Ambitious objectives, and already the start of a retraining project for the 28-year-old pilot?
