Marseille Appoints Habib Beye as New Coach Amidst Turbulent Season

omidbasir- Marseille is seeking to revitalize their season with the appointment of a new head coach.

The nine-time French champions have appointed Habib Beye to succeed Roberto De Zerbi, following a disappointing stretch that saw the club exit the Champions League and fall 12 points behind Ligue 1 leaders Lens.

Beye, a former Senegal international and a past player for Marseille, will lead the team in their upcoming match against Brest this Friday.

Previously, Beye guided Red Star to promotion to Ligue 2 and spent the last 18 months as the head coach at Rennes before his recent dismissal.

Marseille has struggled in their last three league matches, jeopardizing their title aspirations. The team’s poor performance, including a heavy 5-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, has left supporters dissatisfied. The club is optimistic that Beye, known for his discipline and focus on ball possession and an offensive style, can provide the much-needed spark.

Marseille owner Frank McCourt emphasized that Beye’s hiring is essential to refocus on the challenges that lie ahead this season.

Since McCourt’s acquisition of Marseille in 2016, the once-mighty club has faced instability, marked by a series of coaching changes and crises. They have not secured a league title since 2010.

The situation became even more tumultuous on Tuesday when sporting director Medhi Benatia returned to the club just two days after resigning.

Benatia had stepped down on Sunday, shortly after De Zerbi’s departure; however, in a statement, McCourt announced that Benatia would return to oversee all sporting activities until the end of the season.

Benatia expressed his support for Beye’s appointment.

“The selection of Habib Beye as the new coach of OM aligns perfectly with our goal of bringing in a leader who can motivate a team in need of revitalization after a challenging period on the field,” Benatia stated.

“From our initial discussions, I found him to be extremely dedicated and focused on the future, with clear objectives for everyone: to swiftly return to winning, secure a position on the Ligue 1 podium, and strive for victory in the Coupe de France to provide the people of Marseille with a trophy.”