2023-09-27 19:54:00
After a chaotic week and numerous internal twists and turns, OM begins a new cycle with the appointment of Gennaro Gattuso as head of his team. Following the departure of Marcelino, whose style of play, considered boring by supporters, had caused a strong uproar, president Pablo Longoria set his sights on the 45-year-old coach. The Italian has signed up for one year with another optional and arrives with his staff, made up of five assistants.
Gattuso, a name that necessarily speaks to all football enthusiasts: an immense midfielder at AC Milan under the orders of Carlo Ancelotti, he notably won the Champions League twice and especially the World Cup in 2006 with the Squadra Azzurra. Known for his passion and his aggressiveness on the pitch, “Rino” was predestined to become a coach and pass on his passion to his players.
His ninth team in ten years
On the UEFA website, in 2020, Kalidou Koulibaly explained how the technician had raised the bar in Naples. “Before his arrival, we were in a bit of difficulty, he brought back his desire to win. He tried to convey the mentality he had as a player. It’s not easy, but I think it was successful. He listens a lot to the players he has during matches, he almost never sits on the bench. He still continues to give advice. »
The former number 8 of the Rossoneri is not a novice on the benches: he has now been coaching for ten years and a first experience at FC Sion (Switzerland), in 2013. When we look at his career, one element jumps out at the eye: the stability is not its strong point. With Olympique de Marseille, Andrea Pirlo’s former teammate will have his ninth experience as a coach. Gattuso never stayed more than two years in office. And, in certain situations, divorce happened very quickly: three months in Palermo, four months at OFI Crete, six months in Valencia… The prize, however, goes to his very short stint at Fiorentina, where he did not stay only twenty-two days due to disagreements with his management over the transfer window.
“I like his energy, he’s a competitive animal”
Although he is on the move, Gennaro Gattuso also knows how to get involved in projects and give of himself. In particular, he brought Pisa up to Serie B (Italian 2nd division), stabilized AC Milan in a difficult economic context and won the Italian Cup with Naples. At Valencia, his last experience to date, he was unable to complete his mandate due to difficult results, but his time in La Liga was appreciated, notably by Luis Enrique. “You might think that he’s a coach who comes from Italian football so defensive, it’s the opposite. He changed the mentality of his players, with many new players and a weakened team. I like watching him, he has game mechanics when starting from behind, they manage to attack space with ease, maintain the positional game, they are competitive, I like his energy, he is a competitive animal. It’s one of my favorite teams to watch,” the current PSG coach said on Twitch.
This summer, at a press conference, Pablo Longoria declared that he wanted a “rock’n’roll” coach for OM before appointing Marcelino. With Gennaro Gattuso still colorful, the Marseille president risks being served. But, beyond his image as an angry coach, the 2006 world champion also knows how to talk to players lacking confidence. Gattuso’s personality is totally compatible with the Marseille volcano, and the constant pressure around the club is unlikely to destabilize him.
The upcoming calendar immediately represents an immense challenge: Monaco, Nice, Brighton, Lens, Lille, AEK Athens and even Strasbourg on the program for the next two months. It remains to be seen whether he will be the man capable of bringing calm and consistency to a Marseille team which will have its seventh coach in the space of five years.
#bumpy #journey #benches