Roberto De Zerbi has been confirmed as the new head coach of Marseille on a three-year deal.
The Athletic had reported that the French side reached an informal agreement for the Italian coach to succeed Jean-Louis Gasset, who retired at the end of the last season. The 70-year-old was placed in interim charge in February after the dismissal of Gennaro Gattuso.
“I am very happy to sign with Olympique de Marseille, I felt a strong desire to join this club,” De Zerbi said. “The history and prestige surrounding OM, the passion and fervour of its supporters, the seriousness and enthusiasm shown to me by Frank (McCourt, owner), Pablo (Longoria, president) and Medhi (Benatia, sporting director) were decisive in my decision to take on this exciting challenge.
“I can’t wait to sit on the bench at the Orange Velodrome, this time as coach of OM, and help the club regain the rank that Marseille deserves.
De Zerbi, 45, departed Brighton & Hove Albion by mutual consent at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. Former St Pauli head coach Fabian Hurzeler, 31, was announced as his successor earlier this month.
Hurzeler is De Zerbi’s replacement at Brighton (Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images)
Before joining Marseille, De Zerbi held discussions with Manchester United regarding the possibility of replacing Erik ten Hag should the Dutchman leave the club. He was also considered an unlikely candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.
The Italian will take charge of a Ligue 1 side for the first time in his managerial career, having previously worked in Italy, Ukraine and England.
He joined Brighton in September 2022 and secured European football for the first time in the club’s history during his first season in charge.
The south-coast club finished 11th last season and his departure was confirmed ahead of the final game of the campaign.
The Athletic reported the irreconcilable differences between De Zerbi and owner-chairman Tony Bloom about how the club should operate in the transfer market was the key issue that led to his departure.
Coaching staff members Andrea Maldera, Ricard Segarra, Marcattilio Marcattilii, Vincenzo Teresa, Agostino Tibaudi, Marcello Quinto and Enrico Venturelli also left Brighton with him. Maldera, who was De Zerbi’s assistant on the south coast, will rejoin the head coach at Marseille.
(Photo: Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)
