Michelle Kang, owner of NWSL’s Washington Spirit, named president of Olympique Lyonnais men’s team

Michele Kang’s international soccer portfolio keeps growing. The owner of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit was named the president of the Olympique Lyonnais French men’s club on Monday, the team announced.

Ms. Kang already owns the Olympique Lyonnais women’s team, which was rebranded “OL Lyonnes” in May. Now she inherits the responsibility of steering a men’s club that was relegated last week from Ligue 1, the top French league, due to financial concerns.

In a corresponding move, the soccer mogul was named the CEO of Eagle Football Group, which owns the Olympique Lyonnais men’s team.

“We are entering a critical moment for OL,” Ms. Kang said in a statement.

The 66-year-old has constructed a growing sports empire over the last five years. She bought an initial stake in the Spirit in 2020 before buying a majority share in 2022. She became a board member with Eagle Football Group in 2023 and bought a controlling stake in OL Lyonnes later that year. 

Ms. Kang made headlines in November after donating $30 million to the U.S. Soccer Federation — the largest gift in the organization’s history — to expand the number of development camps for women and girls.