2009-07-05 01:43:01 -

PARIS (AP) - Marseille owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus died Saturday after a long battle with leukemia, club officials said. He was 63.
«He was someone who loved Marseille, but unfortunately today he was swept away by his illness,» Marseille's assistant manager Guy Stephan told iTele TV station. «It's a great loss for Marseille.
Former president Christophe Bouchet, who worked under Louis-Dreyfus between 2002-04, said he felt «a deep sadness» and added that it was «unfortunately not a great surprise, since (Louis-Dreyfus) was very ill over the last month.
Louis-Dreyfus took over at Marseille in 1996. He was previously the director of the Adidas and Salomon sportswear labels.
Louis-Dreyfus had suffered from leukemia for several years and his condition had worsened in recent months.

Marseille did not immediately confirm the death on its Web site.
Contacted by The Associated Press, Marseille's former vice president Jean-Pierre Klein called it «a sad day for Marseille.
Louis-Dreyfus was a cousin of American actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who played the role of Elaine Benes on the «Seinfeld» sitcom.