OM: Galtier, Zidane, Conte… Which coach to succeed Marcelino?

Just under three months after his arrival, Marcelino left Olympique de Marseille. The club confirmed its departure this Wednesday, following a violent crisis which hit OM in recent days. According to L'Equipe, the Spanish coach would not have appreciated the tense meeting between the supporter groups and the Olympian management. If Jacques Abardonado has to sit on the Phocéens bench for the Europa League match against Ajax on Thursday (9 p.m.), OM should quickly look for a replacement. Several renowned tacticians are currently unemployed.

By installing a French coach on its bench, OM would put an end to a series of four foreign coaches (André Villas-Boas, Jorge Sampaoli, Igor Tudor, Marcelino) initiated after the passage of Rudi Garcia (2016-2019). On the Tricolores side, Christophe Galtier (57 years old) is an attractive but quite improbable name. The native of Marseillais, attached to the city and the club, remains in a trying season with PSG on a sporting but also media level. He must still defend himself in the case of accusations of racism against him dating from his time at OGC Nice, and will be judged on December 15 for “moral harassment and discrimination”. Galtier revealed that he was contacted this summer to return to service. “It reassures me that my place is on the sidelines, and not in front of the television watching matches,” he recently declared on Canal.

On the French side, Jocelyn Gourvennec (51 years old) and Sylvain Ripoll (52 years old) are free, but their profiles could not be enough for the Marseille management. It should also be too fair for Didier Digard (37), despite a good stint last season with OGC Nice (12 wins, 8 draws, 5 defeats in 25 matches). On the other hand, the name of Julien Stéphan could quickly be checked by Pablo Longoria. The 42-year-old Rennais has been without a club since his departure from Strasbourg on January 9. Expected for a time to join Saudi Arabia, then to take charge of the Espoirs, Stéphan has a solid knowledge of Ligue 1 and a good popularity rating. His time at Stade Rennais (2018-2021) was noticed.

Finally, it's difficult not to mention Zinédine Zidane, the lifelong Marseillais. The former Real Madrid coach, 51, should however favor patience for a bigger challenge with a big foreign club or with the Blues.

SEE ALSO – Zinédine Zidane’s 11 titles at the head of Real Madrid

To stay in line with foreign coaches, OM could be tempted by two profiles accustomed to Ligue 1: Lucien Favre and Philippe Clement. The Swiss had two stints at OGC Nice, but we will especially remember the first, between 2016 and 2018, during which the Aiglons finished 3rd and 8th. Back on the Promenade des Anglais in the light of the 2022-2023 season, Favre will only have stayed half a season due to poor results. Between his two mandates, he had two solid seasons on the bench at Borussia Dortmund.

As for the Belgian, he did not survive 6th place in AS Monaco after a catastrophic end to last season. His human qualities, his charisma and his management could, however, weigh in the balance. Clement is also recognized in Belgium for his ability to help young players progress. In terms of results, he proved that he knew how to win with three Belgian championship titles.

Before OM, it was OL who had to look for a new coach after the departure of Laurent Blanc. Les Gones finally fell back on the Italian Fabio Grosso, not without having studied many other avenues. Among them, Graham Potter and Gennaro Gattuso.

The first, 48 years old, would have declined the Lyon proposal according to several British media. The former Chelsea coach is always looking for a new challenge since his failed experience with the Blues at the start of last season. As for Gattuso (45), he seemed the favorite to succeed Blanc before being overtaken by Grosso. His volcanic temperament could well correspond to Marseille's expectations. Unless he too lets himself be tempted by Saudi Arabia. His last experience was in January 2023, when he resigned from Valencia six months after his arrival.

Also scented by OL, the Spaniard Julen Lopetegui (57 years old) could please Pablo Longoria. The former coach of La Roja but also coach of Real Madrid and Sevilla FC left Wolverhampton at the beginning of August, six days before the start of the season. In England, Lopetegui saved his team from the descent.

Just fired by the German selection a few months before the Euro, does Hansi Flick (58 years old) want to bounce back so quickly? The former coach of Bayern Munich, winner of the Champions League in 2020, is undoubtedly the most prestigious profile to which Marseille leaders could aspire. He only conceded eight small defeats in two years on the Bavarian bench. Still on the side of the former coaches, why not think of the Brazilian Tite (62 years old)? Despite two early eliminations during the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, his time on the bench of the Seleção is good, including a Copa America in 2019. The fact remains that Tite has never coached in Europe.

Two other former Chelsea coaches are also free: Franck Lampard (45) and Antonio Conte (54). Obviously, the second would be a better pick for the Phocaeans. The Italian was dismissed as Tottenham coach last May, paying for his disappointing results and negative attitude towards the press. Finally, why not consider the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy (47 years old)? The Dutchman is coming off a good season with PSV Eindhoven (2nd in the Eredivisie, attractive game). However, he does not have much experience as a number 1 on a bench.