Carlo Molinari, the former president of FC Metz, has died at the age of 93. The club announced his death on Wednesday, November 4, in a social media post, paying tribute to a leader it described as central to one of the most significant periods in its history.
Molinari first became president in 1967, with a break in his tenure from 1978 to 1983, and remained at the helm until 2009. During his leadership, Metz won the French Cup in 1984 and 1988, and the League Cup in 1986 and 1996.
The club also made its mark in Europe with a 4-1 victory away to Barcelona in 1984. Metz came close to winning the French first-division title in the 1997-98 season. Molinari’s time at the club was also associated with the emergence of players including Patrick Battiston, Bernard Zénier, Sylvain Kastendeuch and Robert Pirès.
Born in Villerupt, in Meurthe-et-Moselle, on February 28, 1933, Molinari was the son of Italian immigrants. Before taking charge of Metz, he competed in motocross, winning three French championships between 1952 and 1955. He later ran a heavy-vehicle company while remaining a devoted supporter of the club.
FC Metz said Molinari had helped modernize the club and establish it in French football. The club, now in Ligue 2, called him a visionary and builder whose legacy had shaped its identity.
Sources: Le Monde Sport.