Quick Read
- Roberto De Zerbi has left Olympique Marseille as head coach by mutual agreement.
- His departure followed a 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and a Champions League exit.
- Marseille stated the decision was collective and made in the club’s best interest.
- De Zerbi joined Marseille in 2024 after two seasons at Brighton, leading them to second place last season.
- The club has not yet announced a replacement ahead of Saturday’s league match.
MARSEILLE (Azat TV) – Roberto De Zerbi has departed from his position as head coach of Olympique Marseille by mutual agreement, the Ligue 1 club announced on Wednesday. The decision followed a series of disappointing results, most notably a crushing 5-0 defeat to bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain and an earlier exit from the Champions League, which prompted a re-evaluation of the team’s leadership.
The Italian coach’s departure comes after a challenging period for the nine-time French champions. Sunday’s emphatic loss at the Parc des Princes allowed PSG to re-establish a two-point lead over Lens after 21 rounds, leaving Marseille in fourth place. This significant league setback was compounded by an embarrassing 3-0 defeat against Club Brugge two weeks prior, a result that sealed Marseille’s elimination from the Champions League group stage.
Marseille’s Official Statement on De Zerbi’s Exit
In a statement released on Wednesday, Olympique Marseille confirmed the change, explaining it as a collective decision. ‘Following consultations involving all stakeholders in the club’s leadership – the owner, president, director of football and head coach – it was decided to opt for a change at the head of the first team,’ the club stated. Marseille described the decision as ‘collective and difficult, taken after thorough consideration, in the best interests of the club and in order to address the sporting challenges of the end of the season.’
De Zerbi, who had publicly apologized to Marseille fans after the humbling loss to PSG, joined the club as head coach in 2024 after a two-season stint with Brighton. During his inaugural season, he was credited with tightening the team’s tactical approach, leading Marseille to a respectable second-place finish in the league. However, his more recent tactical choices had reportedly left many observers and fans puzzled, contributing to the team’s dip in form.
Instability Plagues Olympique Marseille
The departure of Roberto De Zerbi underscores a broader pattern of instability that has afflicted Olympique Marseille since American owner Frank McCourt acquired the club in 2016. The former powerhouse of French football has struggled to find consistent leadership, enduring a succession of coaches and experiencing various crises, some of which have escalated into violent confrontations.
Marseille, historically one of France’s most successful clubs, dominated domestic football in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They remain the only French team to have won the Champions League, achieving this feat before PSG claimed the trophy last year. Despite their rich history, the club has not secured a league title since 2010, a testament to their prolonged search for sustained success. The club did not immediately announce a replacement for De Zerbi, leaving the team without a named head coach ahead of Saturday’s crucial league match against Strasbourg.
De Zerbi’s departure highlights the immense pressure on coaches at clubs with high expectations and a history of instability, where immediate results often outweigh long-term strategic development, as evidenced by Marseille’s consistent turnover in leadership.