The Brescia native, who notably played for Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, and who has just coached the English club Brighton for two seasons, is renowned for his attractive and attacking style of play.
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 very strong desire to join this club. The history and prestige that surround OM, the passion and fervor of its supporters, the seriousness and enthusiasm shown to me » the leaders, Roberto De Zerbi listed in the statement.
The latter had already been close to signing for OM, in spring 2022 after the departure of Jorge Sampaoli. “It was a great 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 to come 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 beginning of a “new sports cycle”. Criticized after a disappointing year on a sporting level, the Spanish leader achieved a nice coup with the signing of the Italian coach before starting a transfer window which promises to be very lively on the Marseille side.
