May 28 – Former Bayern Munich CEO and legendary Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has formally submitted a bid to acquire crisis-stricken Girondins de Bordeaux, as the six-time French champions face a pivotal bankruptcy court hearing that could determine their future.
According to local newspaper Sud-Ouest, Kahn and his investment partners have lodged a ‘plan de cession’ — a formal rescue and takeover proposal — with the Commercial Court in Bordeaux. The offer will now be considered by court-appointed administrators overseeing the club’s financial restructuring, alongside a competing proposal from current majority owner Gérard Lopez.
Kahn’s submission – with a financial package believed to start with €15 million in cash – comes at a critical juncture for Bordeaux, who are currently battling for survival both on and off the pitch. The club is set to appear before the Commercial Court on Tuesday evening, where Lopez is expected to present his own plan aimed at stabilising the club’s finances and preserving its professional status.
However, the court could opt to delay any immediate ruling if Kahn’s offer is deemed credible and worthy of deeper consideration. Under French commercial law, such a postponement would last a minimum of 15 days, potentially pushing a final decision into mid-June.
Kahn is believed to have conducted extensive due diligence in recent months and visited Bordeaux in February, holding discussions with local government officials on February 21. While maintaining a low public profile since, he has been actively working behind the scenes with a view to replacing Lopez, whose tenure has been marked by instability and back-to-back relegations.
Once a fixture in European football, Bordeaux now compete in National 2 – the fourth tier of French football – after finishing fourth in Group B this season, missing out on promotion to Stade Briochin. The club’s decline has been accelerated by financial mismanagement and repeated administrative penalties. A second enforced relegation in three years has left the once-proud club teetering on the brink.
The position of Bordeaux’s primary creditor, Fortress Investment Group, as well as that of Bordeaux Métropole, will be crucial to the court’s decision. Both entities hold significant influence over the club’s future direction and must back any proposal for it to be viable.
Should Kahn’s bid be approved or enter formal consideration, it would mark the 54-year-old’s return to football in a high-profile leadership role following his departure from Bayern Munich’s executive board in 2023. The potential acquisition could also represent a major turning point for Bordeaux, whose recent history has been defined by uncertainty and decline.
With the summer fast approaching and league registration deadlines looming, time is running out for Les Girondins to secure a stable path forward — and Kahn’s move may yet offer an alternative route back to the professional ranks.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1748558178labto1748558178ofdlr1748558178owedi1748558178sni@g1748558178niwe.1748558178yrrah1748558178