Gerry Thornley: The incredible rise of Mohed Altrad and Montpellier

Born into a shepherds’ tribe in Syria the billionaire turned around once struggling club

Sat, Oct 14, 2017, 07:00

Gerry Thornley

Montpellier president Mohed Altrad with head coach Vern Cotter. Photograph: Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images

Montpellier president Mohed Altrad with head coach Vern Cotter. Photograph: Pascal Guyot/AFP/Getty Images

When Montpellier won the European Challenge Cup in 2016, the most significant trophy of their relatively short existence, by beating Harlequins in the final in Lyon, their owner Mohed Altrad was so emotional that he was virtually in tears. This was very significant too.

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