Kevin Magnussen and Felipe Massa have officially joined the ambitious investment project behind Le Mans FC, the French football club now on the verge of returning to Ligue 1 for the first time since 2010. The involvement of the two former Formula 1 drivers further strengthens the historical connection between the city of Le Mans and international motorsport.
Le Mans FC requires just one point from its final match against Bastia to secure promotion to the top division of French football. The achievement would complete a remarkable recovery for a club that went bankrupt in 2013 and collapsed into the sixth tier before gradually rebuilding its sporting and financial foundations.
The new investor group that arrived last summer is led by Brazilian company OutField. Alongside Magnussen and Massa, the project is also backed by tennis superstar Novak Djokovic and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The investment strategy is focused not only on rapid promotion but also on building Le Mans into a globally recognised club with a strong youth-development structure.
OutField co-founder Pedro Oliveira explained that internationally recognised sporting figures were deliberately brought into the project to strengthen the club’s global image. Massa and Magnussen became involved through their relationship with Georgios Frangulis, founder of Oakberry and now one of Le Mans FC’s key investors.
"We wanted to bring major sporting figures who could help the project grow from a branding and international recognition perspective," Oliveira explained.
The involvement of motorsport personalities is viewed as a natural fit given Le Mans’ identity as the home of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Magnussen is currently active in endurance racing following his Formula 1 departure, while Massa continues to maintain strong links with international motorsport and FIA activities.
Club president Thierry Gomez stressed that the project was not created out of financial desperation but as a strategic opportunity to accelerate growth. According to Gomez, Le Mans FC had already achieved financial stability before the arrival of new investors, although additional backing was required to help the club progress toward a higher competitive level.
The club’s long-term strategy also differs from many modern football projects centred around expensive transfers. Le Mans will officially reopen its youth academy in July after it had remained closed since the 2013 bankruptcy. The organisation aims to rebuild its reputation as a developer of elite young talent, following previous success stories involving players such as Didier Drogba and Gervinho.
With manager Patrick Videira guiding the team into second position in Ligue 2, Le Mans now finds itself in its strongest sporting position for more than a decade. Should promotion be secured, the project supported by Magnussen and Massa will enter a new phase focused on establishing Le Mans as one of France’s leading football academies over the coming years.
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