Two weeks before the resumption of training at the Commanderie, Olympique de Marseille still does not have a coach. Pablo Longoria must now decide and the list of his favorite technicians is increasingly reduced.
OM probably expected everything, but not the scenario that has arisen since the president of the Marseille club accepted the resignation of Igor Tudor. When the Croatian coach left the Marseille training center the day after a pathetic defeat in Ajaccio, Pablo Longoria had three names on his list, and the secret hope that the first would be the right one. This number 1 choice was Marcelo Gallardo. But, after very, very long negotiations, and without anyone knowing why, the former River Plate coach finally refused the offer of the third in Ligue 1. Then understood at the end of last week that the Argentinian was going to say no, the president of Olympique de Marseille has therefore made an offer to Paulo Fonseca. The Lille coach was ready to join the Marseille club, but in the end, it was Olivier Létang who closed the door to his coach. If the rumors evoked a possible reversal, this is no longer the case.
Gallardo and Fonseca, it’s no to OM
Indeed, while the president of LOSC was straight in his boots, the hypothesis of a substantial financial offer from OM seemed possible. But FootMercato totally extinguishes this possibility, Paulo Fonseca had a discussion with his leaders, and in particular a representative of the owners, and the Portuguese would not have expressed an exaggerated desire to leave Marseille at all costs. The Fonseca page is therefore definitely turned and Pablo Longoria must now turn to his third choice and that’s good, it will probably be the easiest to convince. Close to the boss of Marseille, whom he knows well for having rubbed shoulders with him in Valencia, Marcelino is now the big favorite to become the coach of OM in the coming days. Aged 57, the Spanish technician has a significant advantage in the sleeves, he has been free since leaving Bilbao in 2022. Everything could go very quickly.
Nothing is decided yet for the coach. It’s a big quagmire, it’s still too early to say that Marcelino will be the coach. #TeamOM pic.twitter.com/v2cXVD6ZQf
— (@LaMinuteOM_) June 19, 2023
According to the specialized media, things could speed up in the Marcelino file, which ticks several boxes to fulfill the desires of Marseille supporters and those of Pablo Longoria. Intractable with his locker room and able to tighten the screws on his players if necessary, the native of Carenes makes practice a football turned towards the offensive. A good point to satisfy the Vélodrome, even if the first test which will be offered to Marcelino’s OM, namely the qualifications for the Champions League, will weigh very heavily in the rest of the season. However, everything might not be so close to being formalized. The La Minute OM Twitter account, which was the first to reveal Marcelo Gallardo’s refusal to come to OM, says that everything is still very vague in the coach’s file: ” Nothing is decided yet for the coach. It’s a big quagmire, it’s still too early to say that Marcelino will be the coach. The suspense should therefore last a little longer.
