Olympique de Marseille has had a slew of coaches since the start of the Frank McCourt era. And strangely, the more we progressed in the Champions Project, the less the coaches lingered in Marseille. A bad cycle which Pablo Longoria wishes to put an end to with Roberto De Zerbi and hopes that he will complete his three-season contract, the flagship project discussed with the owner of OM.
The Champions Project began in the fall of 2016 with the acquisition ofABOUT by American businessman Frank McCourt. From then on, the presidency returned to Jacques–Henri Eyraud et Rudi Garcia inherited the coaching position. He was only the first coach of the era McCourtbut the one who has always stayed the longest to this day, to the point of realizing the dream of the current president Pablo Longoria.
Longoria wants coach for three seasons and gloats over De Zerbi
At a press conference this Wednesday on the occasion of the traditional mid-season update, Pablo Longoria spoke of a strong sporting desire shared between Frank McCourt and the president of theABOUT : set up a sporting cycle of three full seasons with one and the same coach. The lucky one was Roberto DeZerbi et Longoria still welcomes it today. “With Frank McCourt, we wanted to start a new cycle of three seasons with Roberto De Zerbi with whom we are very satisfied (…) We wanted to build for three years with a powerful, renowned coach and leadership. We wanted to try to do as much as possible to make an impossible situation a reality, with values that are not money. The most important thing was not only the coach but the person and his daily values which are very similar to this club and this city. That’s the thing that pleased me, seeing someone who shares the DNA of this club.”
By Zerbi therefore signed a contract on June 29 which binds him to loon until June 30, 2027. A duration of three years that Rudi Garcia could have filled.
Rudi Garcia: October 2016-never 2019
He was French champion with LOSC in 2011 and generally made a good impression on the Roma during his three freelance periods between 2013 and 2016. It was on October 20 of that year that Rudi Garcia became coach of theABOUT notably by signing the most beautiful European epic of the Marseille club of the era-McCourt : the journey to the final of the Europa League lost in 2018 againstAtletico Madrid. At the end of the following season, Garcia left his position as coach, making way for André Villas–Boas
André Villas-Boas: May 2019-February 2021
After a year and a half of gap following his departure from Shanghai SIPG, Andre Villas–Boas was back in service. Nicknamed The Special Two in his beginnings, the disciple of Jose Mourinho did not have as successful a coaching career as his Portuguese compatriot. At theIF, However, he managed to qualify for the Champions League in 2020/2021 following his second place obtained the previous season following the end of the championship due to Covid-19. Dissatisfied with the unwanted recruitment ofOlivier Ntcham, Villas–Boas called a press conference the day after the end of the 2021 winter transfer window to announce his departure.
Jorge Sampaoli: end of February 2021-July 2022
Jorge Sampaoli allowed to Dimitri Payet to experience your best football. At least that’s what the former playmaker said. loon has RMC Sport who played in all offensive positions under the leadership of the Argentine technician. Because of the start of the transfer window which was not to his liking, Sampaoli packed up on July 1, 2022, immediately replaced by Igor Tudor.
Igor Tudor: July 2022-June 2023
Igor Tudor was one of the coaches, if not the one, who most excited OM supporters with his forward-leaning style of play. He was also the coach who allowed the followers of theMarseille Olympic to vibrate one evening in February 2023 by eliminating the PSG of the French Cup. Dulled by the daily life of coaching the Marseille club, he announced his departure in June 2023.
Marcelino, Gattuso and Gasset, three in one: June 2023 – May 2024
And then the dark season came loon. Due to a crisis with the supporters and threats made towards the club management, Marcelino decided to leaveMarseille Olympice September 20, 2023, only three short months after his appointment. This was followed by the departures of several leaders and the arrival of Gennaro Gattuso in place of Marcelino. The Italian technician only lasted until the winter and was replaced by Jean–Louis Gasset as interim coach.
His mission was completed and resulted in the landmark announcement that Pablo Longoria was waiting for: a trainer, Roberto DeZerbihired for three years. A first under the era Frank McCourt.
