At a club rebuilding from the lower rungs of French football, Bordeaux have put new faces at the front of the project. The Girondins have appointed Dominique Delport as president and named Arnaud Cormier as head coach ahead of a season in Régional 1.
Key takeaways
- Dominique Delport becomes Bordeaux president following the takeover by British investment fund Park Bench.
- Arnaud Cormier will lead the first team as the club prepare to compete in Régional 1.
- Arnaud Saint-André remains general director and will continue to oversee day-to-day operations.
- Cormier previously coached Le Mans in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 after winning the 2004 Coupe Gambardella with the club’s youth side.
- Delport brings senior experience from media, communications, strategic consulting and investment banking.
A new structure after the Park Bench takeover
Bordeaux confirmed the appointments as part of a wider reorganisation following Park Bench’s acquisition of the club. The stated objective is to establish a stable, lasting sporting and institutional framework while remaining connected to the identity and supporters of the Girondins.
The club said the new phase should restore a Bordeaux spirit built around high standards, humility, solidarity and pride in belonging. That task now begins in Régional 1, where one of France’s most decorated names will attempt to lay foundations after its recent turmoil.
Delport takes the presidency with a business background spanning several international sectors. He began his career in journalism before becoming chief executive of Havas Group, chairman of Vivendi Content and international president of VICE Media.
He later created Arduina Partners, a strategic advisory and investment company. His arrival gives Bordeaux a president whose career has largely been outside football, but whose remit will be to guide the club through its latest reconstruction.
Cormier brings coaching and academy experience
Cormier steps into the dugout with experience at both youth and senior level. Much of his coaching career was formed at Le Mans, where he led the club’s young side to Coupe Gambardella success in 2004.
He subsequently managed Le Mans’ first team between 2009 and 2011, working in Ligue 1 before continuing in Ligue 2. His later roles included spells as assistant coach at Montpellier alongside Frédéric Hantz during the 2016-17 campaign, and at Metz in 2017-18.
Saint-André, meanwhile, stays on as general director. He joined Bordeaux in November 2024 after previous experience with Paris FC, Caen and Quevilly Rouen Métropole.
He will remain responsible for the club’s operational management and the coordination of its activities, working with Delport and the sporting staff. His previous posts have given him experience across the legal, financial and operational demands of running football clubs.
