Habib Beye appointed coach of Marseille

Olympique de Marseille have named their ex-captain Habib Beye as their new manager, the club revealed on Wednesday, shortly after his dismissal from Ligue 1 competitors Rennes just over a week earlier.

The 48-year-old replaces Roberto De Zerbi following the Italian's departure from the 1993 European champions early last week, prompted by a heavy 5-0 defeat to fierce opponents Paris Saint-Germain.

Beye inherits a squad currently in fourth position in Ligue 1 with 12 matches left, trailing Lyon by five points in third and Lens by 12 at the summit.

The first three spots secure direct entry to next year's Champions League, while fourth place means starting in the third qualifying round.

Beye's official presentation occurs on Thursday ahead of his debut match on Friday, a trip to face Brest.

Marseille, eliminated from the current Champions League on the last day of the group stage last month, have advanced to the French Cup quarter-finals.

The former Senegal defender Beye managed Rennes for slightly more than a year, after leading lower-division club Red Star and serving as a key analyst on French TV.

He represented Marseille between 2003 and 2007, including playing with Didier Drogba in the side that fell to Valencia in the 2004 UEFA Cup final.

Beye, who also featured for Strasbourg, ended his playing days in England with stints at Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Doncaster Rovers in the Championship.

"His strong bond with Olympique de Marseille and his thorough understanding of the Marseille setting could prove vital in advancing the club further," read an OM statement, which omitted details on the duration of Beye's deal.

The news of Beye's move to Marseille followed soon after his exit agreement with Rennes concluded, with the club installing his replacement, Franck Haise.

The French coach Haise agreed terms until 2027, coming in after Beye's exit left the Brittany team sixth in Ligue 1.

Haise, aged 54, led Lens into the Champions League group phase for 2023/24 following their second-place finish in the prior Ligue 1 campaign.

He arrived at Nice in June 2024 but departed in December, having secured only five victories in 16 league fixtures. Haise heads back to Brittany after coaching in the Rennes youth setup from 2006 to 2012.

"Returning to Rennes brings immense happiness, a real delight, alongside my team, to be part of such an esteemed club," Haise commented in an official release.