Former Marseille president Pape Diouf died on Tuesday after contracting the coronavirus, the French club has confirmed.
Diouf, 68, was admitted to hospital in his native Senegal over the weekend and required breathing assistance.
The man who led OM from 2005 to 2009 was due to be flown to Nice this week but his deteriorating condition made that impossible.
Diouf was well-regarded in the French game and Marseille wished him well in his battle against COVID-19 via social media just hours before the news of his death.
Although Marseille did not win a domestic title under Diouf, he saw Les Phoceens twice finish second in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France, but they did win the 2005 Intertoto Cup.