Mourad Boudjellal
France
player portrait
Full name Mourad Boudjellal
Born June 5, 1960, Ollioules
Current age 63 years 288 days
Major teams Toulon
Other Club owner
Profile

A multi-millionaire publisher of comic books, Boudjellal took control of Toulon in 2006 has steered the club back to the pinnacle of French rugby.

The son of an Algerian, the entrepreneur founded the publishing company Soleil in the 1980s and having made his fortune took charge of Toulon in 2006 vowing to return the club the France's top division.

He bankrolled the signings of a host of high-profile names like former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga, ex-Australia skipper George Gregan, Springbok Victor Matfield and All Blacks Anton Oliver and Andrew Mehrtens as the club looked to regain their place in the Top 14 and they achieved their goal in 2008.

After cementing their survival in the top flight, Boudjellal dug deep once again to build a side that could challenge for honours with the signing of England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson at the start of the 2009-10 season signalling their intent. Australian rugby league star Sonny Bill Williams was another high-profile recruit as was former French international Phillippe Saint-Andre who took over the coaching reins in 2009 and together they secured Heineken Cup status for the 2010-11 season when England wing Paul Sackey and All Blacks prop Carl Hayman will become the club's latest big-name signings.

Toulon finished in a disappointing eighth position in 2010-11 but that did not discourage Boudjellal from bringing in the likes of Matt Giteau and Bakkies Botha to supplement their array of stars. But in the early part of the 2011-12 season, Boudjellal lost his coach Saint-Andre to the French national side. He opted to bring in Bernard Laporte to replace the former Sale guru.

But Boudjellal struggled to stay out of the headlines after describing Christophe Berdos' officiating of their match against Clermont Auverge as a 'refereeing sodomy'. Boudjellal was hit with a 130-day ban from certain areas of the stadium as a result.

Boudjellal has also financed the club's use of Marseille's 60,000-seater Stade Velodrome for big matches with the exercise proving to be a huge marketing and financial success.

Latest Articles
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal angrily denies doping allegations (Sep 8, 2015) The ESPNscrum Awards - Retallick, rugby and rants (Dec 30, 2014) Boudjellal: Armitage ban is 'incomprehensible' (Dec 18, 2014) Boudjellal welcomes Toulon v Sharks match (Nov 26, 2014) Smacked backsides and poor decisions (Sep 22, 2014) Mourad Boudjellal news and articles (29) »
Latest Photos
May 19, 2013
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal lifts the Heineken Cup
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal lifts the Heineken Cup
©  Getty Images
May 18, 2013
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal holds the Heineken Cup aloft
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal holds the Heineken Cup aloft
©  Getty Images
Apr 28, 2013
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal celebrates his side's triumph
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal celebrates his side's triumph
©  Getty Images
Jan 28, 2012
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal watches his side in action
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal watches his side in action
©  Getty Images
Mourad Boudjellal rugby photos (16) »

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