Marseille is aiming to revive their season with the appointment of a new coach.
The nine-time champions of France have brought on Habib Beye to succeed Roberto De Zerbi, following a disappointing run that led to their elimination from the Champions League and a 12-point gap behind Ligue 1 leaders Lens.
Beye, a former international player from Senegal known for his time at Marseille, will lead the team in the upcoming match against Brest on Friday.
Having recently guided Red Star to Ligue 2 promotion, Beye was dismissed from his role at Rennes earlier this month.
Marseille has struggled to secure a win in their last three league encounters, significantly impacting their title ambitions. The team suffered a crushing 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain, causing frustration among the supporters. The club hopes Beye, known for his strict approach and emphasis on ball possession and attacking play, will reinvigorate the squad.
Beye’s appointment “refocuses our efforts on the challenges we must address leading up to the end of the season,” stated Marseille owner Frank McCourt.
Since McCourt acquired Marseille in 2016, the club has struggled to achieve stability amid a revolving door of coaches and ongoing crises. Their last league title win dates back to 2010.
The season took another unexpected turn on Tuesday as sporting director Medhi Benatia returned just two days after resigning.
Benatia stepped down on Sunday, shortly after De Zerbi’s exit. However, McCourt announced that Benatia would return until season’s end to “oversee all sporting activities.”
Benatia expressed his support for Beye’s new role.
“Selecting Habib Beye as OM’s head coach aligns perfectly with our objective of finding a leader capable of energizing a team that clearly needs motivation following a tough stretch on the pitch,” Benatia said in a statement.
“From our initial conversations, he impressed me with his commitment and clear focus on the future, emphasizing our goal of quickly returning to winning form, securing a top position in Ligue 1, and competing for the Coupe de France to bring a trophy to Marseille’s supporters.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.