Roberto De Zerbi: A Complex Journey Through Management

omidbasir- Roberto De Zerbi is held in exceptionally high regard by fellow managers; many would argue he is revered rather than merely respected.

Pep Guardiola, for instance, had been closely monitoring De Zerbi long before he took charge at Brighton. Under De Zerbi’s leadership, Brighton quickly emerged as one of the most entertaining teams in Europe. In May 2023, Guardiola praised De Zerbi, stating, “Roberto is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years. There is no team playing the way they play; it’s unique, akin to a Michelin-star restaurant. I sensed his impact would be significant upon his arrival in the Premier League, but I didn’t expect him to achieve it so rapidly. His team generates 20 or 25 chances per game, better than most opponents, and dominates possession like we haven’t seen in a long time. Brighton is a team I learn a lot from.”

Jurgen Klopp, another of Guardiola’s great rivals, echoed similar sentiments regarding De Zerbi’s work at Brighton, noting how his Liverpool team appeared “silly” during a 3-0 defeat at the Amex Stadium. “I am a football lover, and if someone comes in with the impact Roberto has had, it should not be underestimated,” Klopp remarked.

Despite making history by qualifying Brighton for European competition for the first time ever with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League at the end of the 2022-23 season, De Zerbi parted ways with the club by mutual consent at the conclusion of the following season. This decision stemmed from irreconcilable differences regarding player recruitment and a perceived lack of ambition. De Zerbi later expressed to the Daily Telegraph, “I didn’t understand what the next step forward was. You could offer to double my salary, but if I can’t see a dream or goal to achieve, I can’t give my all as I would like. I would lose motivation and purpose, which I have always had in football. This is why I decided to leave the club, even though it was against my will, almost suffering.”

On a positive note, De Zerbi was a sought-after manager. His accomplishments at Brighton attracted interest from elite clubs in the Premier League as well as various Serie A teams. Ultimately, he made a swift return to management, taking charge at Marseille, a decision that raised eyebrows.

In many ways, De Zerbi and Marseille were a fitting match, particularly on an emotional level. The passionate coach and the notoriously chaotic club shared a fervent love for the game. This connection helped explain why De Zerbi felt so comfortable in the city, understanding the significance of Olympique de Marseille (OM) to its supporters. Former Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri remarked, “De Zerbi was like a fan coaching the team. He was deeply affected by defeats.”

This sentiment was evident when, following a devastating penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophee des Champions on January 8, De Zerbi was moved to tears in the dressing room. “I’ve never cried after a defeat, but today I did because this loss hurts,” he admitted. “We aimed to make our mark in this club’s history and win a trophy, but we fell short. We had prepared meticulously against the best team in Europe, and this time we deserved to win. We must consistently demand character, technique, and defensiveness from ourselves.”

However, Marseille’s inconsistency drove De Zerbi to frustration, ultimately costing him his job. Similar to his time at Brighton, he experienced a successful initial year at Marseille, achieving Champions League qualification by finishing second in Ligue 1. Yet, his unconventional decision for a late-season training camp in Rome hinted at underlying challenges.

In fact, signs of distress began to surface early in the 2024-25 season. Just three months into the campaign, following a 3-1 home loss to Auxerre on November 8, De Zerbi threatened to resign. “If I’m the problem, I’m ready to leave. I’ll leave the money and hand back my contract,” he declared to reporters. “I came to Marseille for the Velodrome, yet I can’t get the players to deliver what I observe in training and away games. It’s my fault, my responsibility.”

There were also numerous confrontations between De Zerbi and players he perceived as underperforming or failing to appreciate the “privilege” of representing Marseille. One particularly heated exchange with Ismael Kone saw De Zerbi dismiss the Canadian from the training field due to a perceived lack of effort, instructing him to call his agent. Kone reacted angrily to being effectively told to leave the club in front of teammates. Since departing Marseille, first on loan to Rennes and then on a permanent transfer to Sassuolo, Kone has expressed annoyance that the club used this incident to promote a documentary on the 2024-25 season.

This behavior further reinforced the notion that Marseille thrives on the idea that it takes a unique character to succeed in such a high-pressure environment. Ultimately, even De Zerbi found the situation overwhelming.

Just two months prior, De Zerbi had expressed his desire to remain long-term at Marseille, stating, “I’d like to stay beyond three seasons and become one of the longest-serving coaches in the club’s history. I feel good even amidst the criticism and confusion.”

However, following a season marred by volatile incidents, including a violent dressing-room altercation between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe, he was clearly nearing his breaking point by the time Marseille was eliminated from the Champions League on January 28. Although their exit was somewhat unfortunate, hinging on a last-second header from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, Marseille did not deserve to progress following a dismal 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge in their final league-phase fixture.

De Zerbi was left both shocked and disheartened by their lackluster performance at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Despite rumors that he had submitted his resignation during talks with club president Pablo Longoria and sporting director Medhi Benatia, he opted to attempt to salvage Marseille’s season. Unfortunately, this endeavor proved futile.

Just three days after the setback in Bruges, Marseille squandered a two-goal lead in the final eight minutes of their draw with Paris FC. Although a Coupe de France victory over Rennes briefly lifted spirits, a crucial defeat in Le Classique left De Zerbi in a state of “total despair.” He admitted, “We prepared for the match as thoroughly as possible, but clearly, we didn’t prepare well. We need to understand why. Why do we go to Brugge and play like that? Why do we come here and play like that? I’m not inside the players’ heads; I don’t know what’s going on.”

De Zerbi struggled to comprehend the reasons behind his team’s erratic performances. One week they appeared capable of greatness; the next, they seemed entirely lost. “I’d like to understand why, here in Marseille, we systematically experience these rollercoaster rides, these ups and downs,” he expressed following a particularly frustrating loss at home to Nantes on January 4. “This is my 12th season as a coach, but today you have to be more of a psychologist than a coach.”

While De Zerbi’s meticulous approach to gameplay is commendable, he is rarely calm and collected, especially when interacting with players. Notably, former Liverpool winger Adam Lallana shared that during his time at Brighton, he often had to reassure teammates that De Zerbi’s intense remarks stemmed from a good place.

His desire to win is undoubtedly commendable, and his intensity contributes to the captivating nature of his teams; however, it appears he has yet to find the right balance between passion and composure. In this respect, he resembles Antonio Conte, albeit without the league titles. This lack of tangible success has led to increasing criticism of De Zerbi and his managerial methods.

Former Marseille and France forward Christophe Dugarry expressed his discontent, stating, “Self-esteem is a quality, but here we are dealing with a huge ego. He coached Sassuolo and Brighton, but he speaks as if he’s won two Champions Leagues.” Initially optimistic about De Zerbi’s arrival at the Velodrome, Dugarry now views the 46-year-old as “overrated,” labeling him a “mediocre coach” and ineffective man-manager who struggles to influence games through substitutions.

Despite this harsh critique, it is unlikely to hinder De Zerbi from securing another position soon. He departed the Velodrome possessing the highest win percentage (57) of any Marseille manager since the turn of the century. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, among other players, paid tribute to De Zerbi, stating, “From experience, I know that you don’t find a coach like you every day.”

De Zerbi is undoubtedly a rare talent, a unique individual capable of inspiring aesthetically pleasing and dynamic football. For these reasons, he retains a multitude of admirers in both Italy and England and is likely on Tottenham’s shortlist to succeed Thomas Frank as manager. Yet, if his stint at Marseille has demonstrated anything, it is that his next adventure is unlikely to last long.