AJ Auxerre pays tribute to François Patriat, senator and devoted club supporter

AJ Auxerre announced Wednesday the death of François Patriat, senator and former president of the Burgundy regional council, who died at age 83. A devoted supporter of the Yonne club, he had maintained close ties with its leadership for many years, particularly with Guy Roux, the emblematic coach who led AJA to the French championship title in 1996 and four French Cups.

“AJA extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of François Patriat, a devoted and dynamic supporter of the club, who always worked with courage and passion to support elite sport in our region,” the club wrote on social media. A tribute will be paid to him before the club’s first home match of the season in Ligue 1, against Angers, on Saturday, August 29 at Abbé-Deschamps.

Born in Semur-en-Auxois, in Côte-d’Or, François Patriat was mayor of Chailly-sur-Armançon, then deputy from 1981 to 2000. He subsequently served as State Secretary for SMEs, Commerce and Crafts under Lionel Jospin, from 2000 to 2002, before briefly serving as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. A senator since 2008, he chaired for nine years the La République en marche group and then the Assembly of Democrats, Progressives and Independents in the Senate.

Patriat was also known as one of the earliest supporters of Emmanuel Macron. Guy Roux recounted how the senator had allowed him to board the presidential plane to attend the 2018 World Cup semi-final between France and Belgium in Saint-Petersburg, illustrating the depth of a friendship that far transcended the boundaries of football.