Wendie Renard recalls playful Champions League celebration with former Lyon president
Lyon captain Wendie Renard has revealed a lighthearted story of her team celebrating a historic Champions League semi-final victory by drenching former club president Jean-Michel Aulas in a shower of champagne. In an interview with L'Équipe ahead of Lyon's upcoming Women's Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal, the veteran defender recounted the moment from the 2010 semi-final against Umeå in Sweden. "We took him into the dressing room and pushed him under the shower," Renard said. "It made us happy, as players, to see him even just smile and really happy."
That 2010 victory was a landmark moment for Lyon, propelling them to their first-ever Champions League final, which they won, beginning a period of unprecedented dominance in European women's football. Renard, then 19, was a key part of that emerging dynasty. The anecdote underscores the close, celebratory relationship that existed between the playing squad and Aulas, whose investment and ambition were foundational to the club's success. Under his presidency, Lyon's women's team grew into a global powerhouse, winning a record eight Champions League titles.
The context of Renard's reminiscence is the current ownership era under Michele Kang, who acquired the club from Aulas in 2023. When asked if a similar celebration with Kang might occur should Lyon overcome Arsenal, Renard suggested a more measured approach. "I think that, even if there is a final victory, we will wait a little while," she said. "Already, I am happy and proud because she is a woman who has ambition, who knows what she wants." She then added, with a hint of pointed comparison, "Aulas also knew what he wanted, a Champions League with the guys."
This final comment references Aulas's long-held and ultimately unfulfilled ambition to win the men's Champions League with Lyon. Renard's reflection comes at a pivotal time for the club, which remains a force in Europe but faces a formidable challenge against an in-form Arsenal side. The story serves as a reminder of the culture of success built over more than a decade, even as the club navigates a new chapter under different leadership. Lyon will host Arsenal in the first leg of their semi-final tie this weekend, seeking a return to the final for the first time since 2022.
