Marseille seek recovery after De Zerbi exit
Consistency has seldom defined Marseille yet this week proved exceptionally turbulent for the once mighty European champions now hunting for a manager to rescue their stumbling campaign.
The passionate Italian Roberto De Zerbi departed the club by mutual consent in the small hours of Wednesday following just over 18 months at the helm and in the aftermath of a crushing loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Back in late January De Zerbi declared his commitment to remain at the Velodrome for five or six additional years but the swift deterioration since then stands out sharply.
It all started with the embarrassing Champions League elimination on the last day of the group stage where a 3-0 loss at Club Brugge coupled with Benficas 4-2 triumph over Real Madrid meant Marseille lost a playoff berth on goal difference to the Portuguese outfit.
Next they squandered a two-goal advantage to end level with Paris FC prior to the PSG disaster a result De Zerbi who guided OM to runners-up spot in France last term admitted left him without any rationale.
That outcome positioned them fourth in Ligue 1 a full 12 points off the pace set by PSG while trailing Lyon by three points for the third and last direct Champions League qualification position.
De Zerbi seemed to have forfeited support in the squad at a club perpetually teetering on the edge of turmoil.
Whenever a manager departs its akin to the loss of a family member stated sporting director Mehdi Benatia in an interview with LEquipe. It stings deeply and he is hardly the sole party at fault.
Marseille have advanced to the French Cup last eight so plenty remains at stake this term. That said there was genuine optimism that De Zerbi could reestablish them as a Champions League contender and snap a title famine stretching to 2012.
Now they hunt for their eighth full-time boss since Rudi Garcia departed after nearly three years in 2019.
Pancho Abardonado from De Zerbis support team will lead the side in Saturdays clash against Gary ONeils Strasbourg who enter the weekend sitting seventh.
Whereas ex-Brighton and Hove Albion chief De Zerbi might return to the Premier League Marseille require a tactician capable of enduring success in the unpredictable setting of southern France.
Candidates include Habib Beye the French born ex-Newcastle United Aston Villa and Senegal stopper.
Aged 48 Beye formerly skippered Marseille during his stint from 2003 to 2007. He is free after dismissal from Rennes on Monday making him a timely option.
Player to watch: Ousmane Dembele
The previous years Ballon dOr recipient is regaining peak condition judging by his pair of strikes versus Marseille last week putting him at six goals from nine outings in 2026 and reaching 50 for PSG.
On Friday he revisits Rennes where he first shone as a youth prospect ten years prior. Then next week PSG travel to Monaco for the opening leg of their Champions League knockout matchup as Luis Enriques team eyes defending the continental trophy.
Key stats
5 - Marseilles 5-0 thrashing at PSG last weekend marked their heaviest defeat ever versus their fiercest opponents.
7 - PSG claim victory in their past seven Ligue 1 matches their best run this season.
12 - Lyon boast 12 straight wins across all tournaments. Will they hit 13 against Nice on Sunday?
Fixtures (kick-offs GMT)
Friday
Rennes v Paris Saint-Germain (1800), Monaco v Nantes (2005)
Saturday
Marseille v Strasbourg (1600), Lille v Brest (1800), Paris FC v Lens (2005)
Sunday
Le Havre v Toulouse (1400), Lorient v Angers, Metz v Auxerre (both 1615), Lyon v Nice (1945)