Louis Nicollin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis Nicollin
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Louis Nicollin at the draw for the 1978–79 Coupe de France
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| Born | 29 June 1943 |
| Died | 29 June 2017 (aged 74) Nîmes, France
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| Occupation | Owner of Montpellier HSC and Le Groupe Nicollin (waste collection company) |
| Spouse(s) | Colette Nicollin |
| Children | 2 |
Louis Nicollin (born June 29, 1943 – died June 29, 2017) was a famous French businessman. He led the Nicollin Company, which is known for collecting and recycling trash. He was also the chairman of Montpellier Hérault Sport Club, a football team, from 1974 until he passed away.
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Early Life
Louis Nicollin was born in Valence, a city in France. When he was young, he started working in his family's business. This company focused on collecting waste.
A Career in Business and Sports
In 1974, Louis Nicollin became the chairman of an amateur football club. It was called Montpellier Paillade Sport Club. At that time, the team played in a lower league.
Growing the Football Club
With Nicollin's leadership, the club started to grow. They also had support from the Mayor of Montpellier, Georges Frêche. Within eight years, the team moved up to Ligue 1, which is France's top football league.
In 1989, the club changed its name to Montpellier Hérault Sport Club (MHSC). Nicollin became the only owner that same year. Under his guidance, the team from Montpellier won several big titles:
- The Ligue 2 championship in 1987.
- The Coupe de France (French Cup) in 1990.
- The Ligue 1 championship in 2012. This was a huge win for the club!
Beyond Football
Nicollin didn't just love football. He also invested in other sports.
- In rugby, his company was a main sponsor for AS Béziers Hérault from 1999 to 2009.
- Later, in 2009, he became a part-owner of Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club.
- He also bought a basketball team, Paris Basket Racing, in 2000.
- In 2002, he bought a handball team, Paris Handball.
- He was even the president of a group that organizes water jousting, which is a traditional French sport.
His involvement in sports made him well-known. This helped his waste collection company get new contracts. At the time of his death, Louis Nicollin was one of the richest people in France.
The Mohawk Promise
On April 15, 2012, Louis Nicollin made a fun promise on TV. He said he would dye his hair orange and blue if his football club finished first in the league. Orange and blue are the colors of Montpellier HSC.
On May 24, 2012, his team won the Ligue 1 trophy! True to his word, Nicollin dyed his hair orange and blue.
Personal Life
Louis Nicollin was a huge football fan. He had one of the biggest collections of football jerseys in the world. He owned about 4,500 jerseys, and some of them belonged to famous football players!
He was married to Colette. They had two sons, Oliver and Laurent. Both of his sons work in the family business and with the football club. His younger son, Laurent, is now the Chairman of Montpellier HSC.
Death
Louis Nicollin passed away on his 74th birthday, June 29, 2017. He had a heart attack in Nîmes, France.
