2023-09-20 22:14:53
Chaos reigns in the Marseille city where Spanish coach Marcelino has just officially left the club. A delicate situation which reflects a cruel lack of stability on the Olympian bench for several years.
When you are the coach of Olympique de Marseille, you are constantly walking on embers that can ignite at any moment. Marcelino is the new perfect example.
Arriving on the Marseille bench two and a half months ago, the 58-year-old Spanish coach became this Wednesday the technician with the longest stint on the Olympian bench. The former Athletic Bilbao coach only played seven official matches with Olympique de Marseille and never lost in Ligue 1, but the story is (already) over. Jacques Abardonado, OM assistant coach under Sampaoli and Marcelino, will act as interim coach for Thursday evening’s Ajax-Marseille match in the Europa League.
Despite a third place in Ligue 1, the situation between groups of supporters and management quickly deteriorated on the Canebière. Threatened by certain Marseille ultras with a «guerre» between the club and the fans, president Pablo Longoria decided on Tuesday evening to step back.
This brutal divorce between OM and Marcelino is not surprising in Marseille. For a decade, the last eight coaches of Olympique de Marseille have never signed up for the long term in the Marseille city.
In 2013, José Anigo became the coach of Marseille, replacing Élie Baup and only stayed 6 months on the sky and white bench. Subsequently, Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa spent 1 year and 2 months in Marseille, 9 months for Michel and 7 months for Franck Passi. Rudi Garcia is the coach who has remained in post the longest at OM over the last ten years. The former LOSC coach coached the Olympian club for 2 years and 7 months. André Villas-Boas coached OM for 1 year and 9 months, which is a little more than Jorge Sampaoli and his 16 months. Before Marcelino’s arrival, his predecessor Igor Tudor was in office for only 11 months.
The position of coach of Olympique de Marseille has suffered from a great lack of stability for several years. Many technicians saw their story end earlier than expected with the European champion club in 1993.
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