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 (29 June 1943 – 29 June 2017) was a French entrepreneur and director of the Nicollin Company, which specializes in the collection and reprocessing of household and industrial waste. Nicollin notably served as chairman of Montpellier Hérault Sport Club, a football team, from 1974 to his death.
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Early life
Nicollin was born in Valence, capital of the Drôme department. As a young man he worked in the family business of waste collection.
Business career
In 1974, he became chairman of the amateur football club Montpellier Paillade Sport Club, which played in the division d'honneur. Under his leadership, and the support of Mayor Georges Frêche, the club grew and was promoted to Ligue 1 within eight years.
He became the manager in 1977 and developed its activity mainly in Montpellier, before spreading the company around France and creating overseas departments. The company has operations in Belgium and Morocco. It took the name of Montpellier Hérault Sport Club (MHSC) in 1989, the same year Nicollin became the sole shareholder. Under his leadership, the club of Montpellier has won the championship of Ligue 2 in 1987, the Coupe de France in 1990, and Ligue 1 in 2012.
Nicollin not only invested in football, but also in other sports. In rugby, the Nicollin Company was the main sponsor of the AS Béziers Hérault from 1999 to 2009. In 2009, through a holding in his name, Nicollin became a shareholder in Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club. In 2000, he bought Paris Basket Racing and in 2002 Paris Handball. He placed his associates, including Jean-Claude Lemoult, in charge of the teams. He is also president of the Fédération Française de Joute et Sauvetage Nautique (FFJSN), a regulatory group for water jousting.
His responsibilities and his image in the sports world raised Nicollin's profile among local officials, which helped him win new waste collection contracts for the Nicollin Company. He was a member of the Club des Cinquante (Club of Fifty), a fraternal organization, as well as the Masonic Lodge of Montpellier, which is affiliated with the Grand Orient de France. Nicollin was the 354th richest man in France at the time of his death.
On 15 April 2012, he told TF1 that he would give himself an orange and blue fauxhauk in the style of Jérémy Ménez if his club finished first. On 24 May 2012, Nicollin duly dyed his hair the orange and blue (Montpellier HSC colors) when Montpellier HSC won the 2012 Ligue 1 trophy.
Personal life
As a big football fan, he held one of the largest collections of football jerseys. The collection comprises around 4500 pieces, some of which belonged to football legends.
He was married to Colette, with whom he has two sons Oliver (42 years) and Laurent (39), who both work within the company and the club. His younger son Laurent is the Chairman of Montpellier HSC.
Death
Nicollin died on his 74th birthday on 29 June 2017 of a heart attack in Nîmes, France.
