EXCLUSIVE: Frank Leboeuf on life at Marseille and how Xabi Alonso is perfect for Chelsea
Leboeuf returned to his hometown club Marseille in 2001 after five seasons with Chelsea, making 51 appearances for the French side before departing for Qatar at the end of his career.
Although Marseille did not secure any major trophies during his time there, he emerged as a leader in a team experiencing a turbulent period both on and off the pitch.
Marseille's expectations were immense at the time, and their poor league finishes were viewed as disastrous, leading to constant changes in management and leadership off the field.
Frank Leboeuf spoke exclusively to Tribal Football via BetGoodwin, where you can find the latest updates, odds, and news about the World Cup 2026, about his time with the French giants, which was, to say the least, a mixed experience.
Leboeuf's time at Marseille
How different was your time at Marseille compared to Chelsea, and what did it teach you as a player?
“I came back to Marseille because it is the city where I was born, and my father was ill. He had cancer, so I wanted to be closer to him. On top of that, I felt that Mr Claudio Ranieri had made his choice and did not want me to play anymore, deciding to bring in John Terry.
“Which was a very good idea for English football and for Chelsea. I have no regrets or bitterness whatsoever. I think it was only fair. So I said my time was over. And when Bernard Tapie called me and said, 'I want you to be the captain of Marseille,' that was an honour.
“And I thought, well, let us see. I did not want to play for another English team, only for Chelsea. So I decided to go. Marseille was a big mess. It was not the Marseille that we all saw at the beginning of the 1990s.”
“But that was not the case for Marseille. I met my coach one day before training, and he said, 'I am very pleased to have you.' And after training, he said, 'Oh, bye-bye, I was very pleased to have you.' That is a true story.
“He said goodbye; he was sacked after two hours of training. I think I had about five coaches in two years and three chairmen. So it was a big mess. The atmosphere was crazy when we were winning games. When we won the Clásico against Paris Saint-Germain 1-0, it was insane.
“But the pressure was uncomfortable, I would say, for building something with trust, confidence, and peace, which was quite impossible because the atmosphere is too intense and the pressure from the fans is too strong. It was perfect at Chelsea; that was a different club, a different atmosphere.”
Marseille have not won the league since 2010. Do you think Paris Saint-Germain are too dominant in Ligue 1?
“Yes, they are. First, because they have the money, that is for sure, but on top of that, they now have a coach who knows how to create the perfect squad, and Luis Enrique has been a magician.
“He knew exactly what he had to do. It is very bad for Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé, but he knew he did not want any stars to build something more coherent and ensure everyone was working the same way.”
Is Xabi Alonso the right manager for Chelsea?
Leboeuf made 144 appearances for Chelsea, winning two FA Cups, one League Cup, one Cup Winners' Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup. His time in the Premier League was the peak of his career, and he remains very fond of the club he helped achieve so much success.
The Blues, much like Marseille, have been going through a period of change over the past ten years, which has led to constant managerial sackings and a transfer policy that has been widely ridiculed.
Marseille in the early 2000s was a giant club trying to find direction after years of instability. Now, Chelsea are a giant side aiming for stability after heavy spending and frequent manager changes.
Chelsea have been using Strasbourg to develop young talent for several years now. It is another aspect of their transfer policies, along with extremely long contracts and signing high-upside players, which has been criticised by rivals, but Leboeuf explained how it can only benefit both sides.
How do you feel about Strasbourg being a feeder club for Chelsea? Do you think that is right?
“I think it was a very good idea because Strasbourg needed money, and the fans were unhappy. They said, 'Are we going to serve Chelsea?' Yes, we will.
“But to be competitive, and Strasbourg is more competitive than expected, it is a good thing. We can see good football because we see good football players who will go to Chelsea afterwards.
“But right now, for the past two years, it has been absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere at La Meinau is great.
“And if the Chelsea board ensures they can provide the players Strasbourg needs to be competitive, not only to survive and avoid relegation but also to compete, we saw this season that they reached the semi-final of the Conference League, which is great for that club.”
With Alonso set to take over on July 1st, Leboeuf believes that, alongside the use of Strasbourg as a feeder club, the Spaniard should have full control over transfers if he is to succeed in the coming years.
Is Xabi Alonso the right man for the Chelsea job, and should he have more control over the transfer strategy at the club?
“Yes and yes. He is a great player. He used to be a great player, and he knows football. What he did for Bayer Leverkusen was simply amazing because he had control, and the people on the board allowed him to do whatever he wanted.
“And he did it with cleverness; the guy is one of the smartest, like Pep Guardiola as a coach. If Chelsea wants to achieve something, they have to change their mindset. They cannot be in control of the pitch, but they can be in control of the finances and everything happening in the office.
“But when it comes to the field, Xabi Alonso should be the only one in charge, and hopefully they will understand that. I am very pleased that they picked Xabi Alonso. Congratulations to them; good call. I am pretty sure Xabi Alonso will do very well if he has control.”