Pierre Bouby pays tribute to Bryan Bergougnoux, his 'brother' who died at 43

Bryan Bergougnoux died on May 29 at Toulouse hospital at the age of 43, following several health episodes. The former Olympique Lyonnais striker, three-time French champion (2002, 2004, 2005) and assistant coach at Le Havre since the start of the season under Didier Digard, left the French football world in shock.

His funeral was held in Lyon, ten days after his death, in the presence of around 400 people, including many former teammates. Among them, Pierre Bouby, who chose to address a final public message to him via Instagram, honoring the memory of the man he considered his ‘brother’.

“I miss you. You were one of the most talented players I ever knew, one of the most generous friends. You were a brother to me and everyone will remember you for the incredible man you were,” Bouby wrote, accompanying his words with several shared photos.

The former defender also shared several memories from Lyon’s academy, fondly recalling Bergougnoux’s pranks: an appearance in underwear and a Scream mask in the tutoring room, a false identity as a supervisor to get Bouby out of class, or that promise he made to everyone — “You can say I’ve fixed a YOP with my feet when I’m Ballon d’Or!” — which alone sums up the player’s spirit.

“I love you, rest in peace my brother,” Bouby concluded, in a tribute that moved far beyond the circle of former Lyon players.