France, Sept. 25 -- Jean-Michel Aulas, the former president of the Lyon-based football outfit Olympique Lyonnais, officially announced his candidacy on Thursday to become mayor of the city in a letter sent to potential voters.

"It is to you, the people of Lyon, that I present my candidacy to become mayor of our city," said the 76-year-old, who oversaw the Ligue 1 football club's hegemony at the turn of the century.

"The decision to run (...) is a total commitment," he wrote.

In the letter sent out to around 100,000 homes, Aulas said he had named his movement "Coeur Lyonnais" (Heart of Lyon) and added: "My candidacy will not be that of a party, but that of someone from Lyon who is committed to his city."

The municipal election is due i...