French club Marseille announced the mutual departure of head coach Roberto De Zerbi early Wednesday, shortly after a humiliating 5-0 loss to arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
The move comes amid a challenging period for the team, which has struggled with form in recent weeks.
The 46-year-old Italian tactician, who assumed the role during the summer of 2024, has been rumored to be eyeing a comeback to England’s Premier League.
Under his guidance, Marseille exited the Champions League competition last month and now sit in fourth position in Ligue 1 following the decisive setback against PSG.
Following prolonged rumors regarding his position, the club’s official release detailed the circumstances: “Following discussions between all stakeholders in the club’s management — the owner, president, director of football, and coach — it was decided to make a change at the helm of the first team.”
The announcement added: “This was a difficult collective decision, taken after careful consideration in the best interests of the club, in order to respond to the sporting challenges of the end of the season.”
De Zerbi conducted regular training sessions on Monday and Tuesday, but according to a source who spoke to AFP, a post-meeting consensus led to the split, with the insider noting: “A change of approach was necessary to ensure we reach our objectives at the end of the season, notably qualification for the Champions League.”
In the prior campaign, De Zerbi steered Marseille to a runner-up spot in the league, trailing only PSG.
The current season began promisingly, highlighted by a dominant 6-2 triumph against Le Havre in mid-October that propelled them to the league summit, and a 5-1 rout of Nice at November’s close left them just two points adrift of the leaders in second place.
However, De Zerbi recently admitted to bafflement over the team’s erratic performances, stating: “I have no explanation” for his side’s inconsistent form.
Marseille’s momentum has waned, securing victories in merely three of their past eight domestic fixtures, placing them 12 points behind the title-holding PSG and three points shy of Lyon for the final direct Champions League berth—meaning a fourth-place finish would require navigating playoffs for the group stage entry.
De Zerbi further remarked: “If I had the solution to this inconsistency, I would find it, whatever the price.”
Compounding the woes were consecutive 3-0 thrashings, first at home versus Liverpool and then on the road against Club Brugge, which sealed their elimination from the Champions League.
The squad narrowly failed to advance to the knockout rounds, edged out on goal difference after Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a dramatic late equalizer against Real Madrid, enabling the Portuguese outfit to surpass them in the standings.
Prior to his tenure in southern France, De Zerbi enjoyed a fruitful two-season spell at Brighton in the Premier League, guiding them to a sixth-place finish in his debut year, and earlier managed Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.
This latest change underscores Marseille’s instability in leadership, having cycled through six permanent coaches over the past four years.
Reports indicate that Habib Beye, a former captain of Marseille, is emerging as a strong contender for the position.
Recently dismissed from his role at Rennes, Beye’s familiarity with the club and his coaching experience have positioned him as a favorite among potential hires.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Sekou Chelle has also been linked to the vacancy, with his name gaining traction through recommendations from intermediaries.
The 48-year-old’s rising profile in international football has made him an intriguing option for the Ligue 1 side.
Leave a comment