Things are accelerating at Olympique de Marseille. While the departure of Gennaro Gattuso has not yet been formalized, the Marseille leaders have already found his successor.
Pablo Longoria’s phone has been heating up in recent hours. As soon as the match lost in Brest (1-0) ended, the president of Olympique de Marseille increased his back and forth with his cell phone in his ear, also speaking at length with Medhi Benatia, his sports director. The new defeat conceded in Brest augured major maneuvers and on Monday morning a meeting between the Spanish leader and Gennaro Gattuso marked the departure of the Italian technician.
Just five months after his arrival to replace Marcelino, the former midfielder will leave the Olympian club and will not be on the OM bench on Thursday for the return match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League play-offs . In front of the microphones, the Marseille coach had beaten his guilt and seemed totally helpless, unable to find levers to redress the situation. A speech that he repeated to Pablo Longoria.
A contract until the end of the season
The president of Olympique de Marseille did not wait for this interview to think about the succession to Gennaro Gattuso. According to RMC, he and Medhi Benatia would already have a specific idea in mind: Jean-Louis Gasset would be their priority and discussions would have already started for a quick takeover. The former assistant to Laurent Blanc with the Girondins is indeed hoped for the return match against Shakhtar Donetsk. He was offered a contract until the end of the season.
At 70 years old, Jean-Louis Gasset, who was number one in Saint-Etienne and Bordeaux, is coming out of an experience that was complicated to say the least. Coach of the Ivory Coast at the CAN, he left his post after the big defeat against Equatorial Guinea (4-0) in the last group match, Emerse Faé succeeding him with the success that we know. Miraculously qualified for the round of 16, the Elephants were finally crowned.
Note that two former Marseillais have also applied: Brandao and Joey Barton have indeed offered their service on Twitter.
