OM: Gennaro Gattuso leaves the club in flames
The Italian coach, who arrived in September, could not save the sinking ship of Marseille. He leaves by mutual agreement, after a series of disastrous results.
It was supposed to be a match made in heaven. Gennaro Gattuso, the fiery former midfielder of AC Milan and Italy, who had led Napoli to the Coppa Italia and the Europa League quarter-finals, joined Olympique de Marseille, a club with a passionate fan base and a rich history. The goal was to revive the fortunes of the Phocéens, who had been in turmoil since the departure of André Villas-Boas in February 2023.
But the dream turned into a nightmare. Gattuso, who had signed a one-year contract with an option for another year, failed to impose his style and his authority on a divided and demoralized squad. He also clashed with the club’s president, Pablo Longoria, who had appointed him without consulting the sporting director, Jorge Sampaoli. The results were catastrophic: Marseille finished ninth in Ligue 1, their worst ranking since 2001, and were eliminated from the Europa League by Shakhtar Donetsk in the round of 16.
The final straw came on Sunday, when Marseille lost 1-0 at Brest, a team that had already been relegated to Ligue 2. The fans, who had been protesting against the club’s management for months, expressed their anger and frustration by throwing projectiles and flares at the team bus.
Gattuso, who had been booed and insulted by some supporters, decided to call it quits. He announced his departure to the players on Monday morning, and then to the media. He said he was sorry for not being able to meet the expectations of the club and the fans, and thanked them for their support.
Olympique Marseille close to sealing Gasset deal as Gattuso successor
Olympique Marseille are on the verge of securing the services of Jean-Louis Gasset as their new head coach, following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso. The Frenchman, who has previously managed Montpellier, Saint-Étienne, and Bordeaux, is expected to sign a contract until June 2024 with the option for another season.
