The case has been heard for several days, it is now official. After a difficult season ending in eighth place in Ligue 1, without qualifying for a European Cup for the next season, Olympique de Marseille confirmed, Saturday June 29, the signing of its new coach, Roberto De Zerbi. The Marseille club announced in a press release that the Italian coach had signed “for the next three seasons”.
The native of Brescia, who notably spent time with Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, and who has just coached the English club Brighton for two seasons, is renowned for his attractive and offensive play. “I felt a strong desire to join this club. The history and prestige surrounding OM, the passion and fervour of its supporters, the seriousness and enthusiasm they showed me” the leaders, Roberto De Zerbi listed in the statement.
The latter had already been close to signing for OM, in the spring of 2022 after the departure of Jorge Sampaoli. “It was a good option for me but we couldn’t reach an agreement with the club”he explained in October 2023 before a match between the Marseille club and Brighton in the Europa League. The 45-year-old coach even said to himself “sad not to have come here because this stadium, these fans were a great motivation for me”.
A lively transfer window ahead at OM
After a year where three coaches succeeded one another on the OM bench – Marcelino, Gennaro Gattuso and Jean-Louis Gasset – the American owner of the club, Franck McCourt wants to believe that the arrival of De Zerbi ” marks the start of an ambitious new chapter and is an essential part of our strategy for future success” you club.
East of Zerbi “a talented and renowned coach at European level”for his part greeted Marseille President Pablo Longoria for whom this arrival marks the start of a “new sports cycle”Criticized after a disappointing year in sporting terms, the Spanish manager has pulled off a great coup by signing the Italian coach before starting a transfer window that promises to be very lively on the Marseille side.
