Ex-Marseille President Dies Of COVID-19 In Senegal

Diouf was also a journalist and football agent, before taking over at the Stade Velodrome.
 
Moving to Marseille aged 18, he was set on a career in the military, but soon switched career.
After studying at the prestigious Sciences Po in Paris, he worked at the La Marseillaise newspaper, before becoming a football agent, most notably for Didier Drogba, who thrilled fans at the Velodrome in 2003/04.
He later became president at Marseille, “a difficult post, where there were very few men from diverse backgrounds,” said Jacques-Henri Eyraud, the club’s current president.
“But he fought tooth and nail, and won the hearts of thousands of supporters.”
Diouf himself was aware of the lack of diversity at the management level, telling an interviewer in 2008, that the fact he was the only black president of a top-tier European club was “a painful observation.”
“Pape will remain in the hearts of the Marseillais forever, as one of the great architects in the club’s history,” Marseille said in a statement.
Senegal President, Macky Sall, has also paid tribute to “a great figure of sport” on Twitter.
“To his family, I offer, on behalf of the nation, my deepest condolences.”