It was with some excitement that I went to the Tournament of Legends, organized in Marseille by Treizième Homme, on Friday October 18.

I had the honor of representing American Vintage, the brand created by my long-time friend Michael Azoulay, in competition with other major corporate partners of the club. A day dedicated to sport, conviviality and solidarity, orchestrated by the new organization that has been leading the social actions of Olympique de Marseille since January 2024.

Hunter and Mika Azoulay

From 8 a.m., a warm welcome, outfits offered by Puma and a sumptuous breakfast announced an exceptional day. The format of the competition was particularly attractive: four groups of four teams, each led by a pair drawn at random from former OM glories. Among them, names that made us dream: Romain Alessandrini, Benoît Cheyrou, Thomas Deruda, Gaël Givet, Robert Pirès, Stéphane Porato, Rudy Riou and Sylvain Wiltord.

OM teams

Three matches awaited us that morning: only the top two in each group would advance to the next stage of the competition. Among our opponents, the team of legends with Robert Pirès and Thomas Deruda! An unforgettable match… And in the end, victory! Heading for the final stages, facing formidable competition.

At midday, we had the privilege of attending a very emotional moment. During a buffet worthy of the greatest events, President Pablo Longoria spoke, thanked us for our presence and recalled the importance of the work carried out by Treizième Homme for the city of Marseille. A particularly touching moment was the presentation of an OM Legends trophy to Robert Pirès, celebrating his contribution to the history of the Marseille club.

The afternoon saw the consolation draw and the final stages take place. With my partner Thomas Coll, we managed to reach the final after intense matches in the quarter and semi-finals. The final confrontation pitted us against the formidable team formed by Benoît Cheyrou and Rudy RiouAt the end of an epic match, we were fortunate to win, thus etching our name on the list of winners of this first tournament.

OM teams
OM teams
OM teams

Beyond the joy of victory, it is above all the generosity of the lots that left its mark on us: the collector's jersey for OM's 125th anniversary, a scarf that was also a collector's item, a pair of Cébé glasses, a Puma pala... Unforgettable memories!

This day will remain etched in my memory, not only for the team's final triumph American vintage, but above all for its impeccable organization, exceptional weather and the disconcerting accessibility of these former professional players which reigned throughout the meetings.

It perfectly illustrates the mission of Treizième Homme, which aims to create links between generations of Olympians while promoting strong sporting values.

The success of this event, which is in its second edition this season, demonstrates the relevance of the OM Légendes program in its desire to connect the history, present and future of the Marseille club. A great initiative that perfectly combines passion for sport and social commitment, two values ​​dear to Olympique de Marseille.

To see the summary of this exceptional day in pictures, it's here !

Credit: OM

Stéphane Penso

Padel fan, Stéphane has become the official tester of the padel planet in Europe. Everything goes through his expert hands. Thanks to his extensive experience in the world of rackets, he is able to scan your equipment from head to toe!

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