Novak Djokovic among investors to buy a stake in second-tier French soccer club Le Mans
Le Mans said in a statement that they join other new financial investors into the club, including Latin American sports investment firm OutField and Georgios Frangulis, the founder and chief executive of OakBerry. Frangulis is the boyfriend of three-time women's Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka.
'The uniqueness of this fund also lies in its contribution from high-level athletes,' Le Mans president Thierry Gomez said in the statement. 'Novak Djokovic, Felipe Massa, and Kevin Magnussen will be part of the adventure.'
No financial details were given.
Djokovic is the owner of a men's record 24 Grand Slam titles in tennis.
The 38-year-old Serb has won 100 career titles overall.
Massa won 11 races and secured 41 podiums in his F1 career. When driving for Ferrari, the popular Brazilian was within a whisker of winning the 2008 title, only for Lewis Hamilton to beat him in a dramatic finish at the last race. Hamilton won the title by 98 points to 97.
The 32-year-old Magnussen drove close to 200 races in F1, securing one podium and one pole position. But the Danish driver was not retained by Haas when his contract expired.
Le Mans soccer club, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, begins its league campaign on Aug. 9.
Le Mans — a small city in northwestern France — also hosts the famed 24-hour endurance car race.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Osaka routs Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in 49 minutes to reach Montreal quarterfinals
MONTREAL (AP) — Naomi Osaka advanced to the National Bank Open quarterfinals Sunday with the second-fastest victory of her career, routing Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in 49 minutes in windy conditions. Osaka, the Japanese star who was once No. 1 in the world, had a 42-minute victory in a 2016 event in Brazilin a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Ana Sofia Sánchez. Osaka reached the final eight of a WTA 1000 or Grand Slam event for the first time in 19 months. On Tuesday, she will face the winner of a night match between fifth-seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States and 10th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. Sixth-seeded Madison Keys of the United States also advanced, topping 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova of Czechia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the windy afternoon session. The Australian Open champion will face the winner of a night match between second-seeded Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland and 16th-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark. ___
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Osaka routs Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in 49 minutes to reach Montreal quarterfinals
MONTREAL (AP) — Naomi Osaka advanced to the National Bank Open quarterfinals Sunday with the second-fastest victory of her career, routing Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in 49 minutes in windy conditions. Osaka, the Japanese star who was once No. 1 in the world, had a 42-minute victory in a 2016 event in Brazilin a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Ana Sofia Sánchez. Osaka reached the final eight of a WTA 1000 or Grand Slam event for the first time in 19 months. On Tuesday, she will face the winner of a night match between fifth-seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States and 10th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. Sixth-seeded Madison Keys of the United States also advanced, topping 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova of Czechia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the windy afternoon session. The Australian Open champion will face the winner of a night match between second-seeded Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland and 16th-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark. ___ AP tennis:
NBC News
3 hours ago
- NBC News
French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt wins women's Tour de France at her first attempt
CHATEL, France — French rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt won the women's Tour de France at her first attempt on Sunday, launching an attack to clinch the final stage and increase her overnight lead. It gave Ferrand-Prévôt a resounding victory. She finished 3 minutes, 42 seconds ahead of 2023 champion Demi Vollering of the Netherlands and 4:09 clear of defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma of Poland. "After my Olympic title, I said I would try to win the Tour de France in the next three years," said the 33-year-old Ferrand-Prévôt, an Olympic champion in mountain biking at last year's Paris Games. "So here I am, the first (time)." There was little of the drama of last year's final day, which produced a four-second winning margin for the narrowest victory in the history of the women's and men's races. "My teammates worked super hard for me all week long. I just want to say thank you and congrats to them," said Ferrand-Prévôt, who rides for the Visma–Lease a Bike team. "I love you so much girls, and thank you for everything." Ferrand-Prévôt had put herself largely in control by winning Saturday's eighth and penultimate stage with an audacious solo breakaway on the last climb. That gave her an overnight lead of 2:37 seconds over Australian rider Sarah Gigante and 3:18 over Vollering. Sunday's ninth stage from Praz-sur-Arly to Châtel was a 124-kilometer (77-mile) trek featuring three big mountain climbs. But Ferrand-Prévôt did not face any big attacks and instead launched one of her own with 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) left. The crowds cheered her all the way to the finish line and, moments later, the tears flowed as she lay on her back, exhausted but elated. Vollering was 20 seconds behind in second place and Niewiadoma followed in third place as they sprinted to the line. Earlier, Ferrand-Prévôt was with Gigante and a few others when they tackled the mammoth climb up Col de Joux Plane — an 11.6-kilometer grind with a gradient of 8.5%. Gigante is known to have trouble descending at speed and was dropped on the long downhill. She could not make the time up, especially with no teammates to help her, and lost her podium spot, finishing sixth overall. Having won Olympic gold and conquered the cobblestones of the Paris-Roubaix classic, Ferrand-Prévôt added another line to her glittering resumé with a Tour victory, 11 years after winning the world road race title.
