Toulouse Olympique XIII: Bernard Sarrazain will step down as president
After 10 years at the head of the club, the president of the TO will leave his post in a few months. Under his reign, Toulouse grew, with six more titles on the list and an accession obtained in the Super League, the European elite of the discipline.
It was his choice, his decision. Almost two years since he decided, faced with time and erosion, which have done their work.
Bernard Sarrazain, 71, president of Toulouse Olympique XIII since October 2012, will no longer hold this position next season, which sees the Toulouse club go down to the Championship (2nd division), after playing last season in the Super League, the European elite of the discipline. “But my decision has nothing to do with this sporting question, wants to insist Bernard Sarrazain. I had informed the board of directors for more than a year and a half.”
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Six titles
It was Monday evening that the news was announced to all the club’s partners, gathered at the Palladia hotel in Toulouse. A TO family which must, in these times, stick together: the season sold, in the Super League, was very expensive. The club has thus launched a capital increase operation. This will be Bernard Sarrazain’s last major task before leaving his post for good, in about four months. On the player side, the president is taking the time, shortly, to bring them together. Almost everyone is already aware.
At the twilight of his reign, the former Toulouse entrepreneur in road transport can boast of closing the most glorious page in the history of the club. Six titles: 2 French championships (2014, 2015), a Coupe de France (2014), a League One (2016, 3rd English division), a “Championship shield” (2017, title reserved for the best team in the second half of the Championship ranking) and a Championship (2021).
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Who to succeed him?
Of these glorious evenings, two marked his passage: April 13, 2014, in Carcassonne where the TO won the Coupe de France (46-10), the first (and only for now) in the history of the club after six failures in the final. Bernard Sarrazain had promised this trophy to the elders when he arrived at his post. Then on October 10, 2021, in Toulouse. In front of nearly 10,000 people at the Ernest-Wallon stadium, the TO beat Featherstone in the Championship final (34-12), opening the doors to the much-desired Super League. The culmination of a 20-year project, initiated by the previous president Carlos Zalduendo.
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Bernard Sarrazain remains in the entourage of the club, but will no longer directly write the future. His successor will be appointed in the coming months, once the club’s capital increase operation has passed.