Gennaro Gattuso has been officially appointed Olympique de Marseille manager, the Ligue 1 club has announced. The former AC Milan talismanic holding midfielder has signed a one-year deal that includes the option of a further year. Marseille were in the market for a manager following the resignation of Marcelino after only seven competitive games in charge of Les Phocéens. The Spaniard threw in the towel amid last week’s turmoil at La Commanderie.
L’Olympique de Marseille annonce la signature de 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝘁𝘂𝘀𝗼 au poste d’entraîneur ✍️🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ELdlFbBsWd
— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) September 27, 2023
Assistant coach Jacques “Pancho” Abardonado oversaw Marseille’s last two games against AFC Ajax (3-3) in the Europa League and Paris Saint-Germain (0-4). It did not take long for Marseille’s dressing room to lose faith in Abardonado following the one-sided Classique. Former PSG coach Christophe Galtier, who is born in Marseille, turned down an approach from the OM board on Tuesday because he did not believe the timing was right for him, given Les Phocéens wanted to appoint their next coach in the coming days.
Previously linked with the managerial vacancy at Olympique Lyonnais, Gattuso has decided to take up the Olympique de Marseille gauntlet. According to L’Equipe, the 2006 World Cup winner with Italy will be accompanied by his own five-man staff: his trusted right-hand man Luigi Riccio, fitness coaches Dino Tenderini and Bruno Dominici, video analyst Marco Sangermani and goalkeeping coach Roberto Perrone.
“I am very happy and proud to join Olympique de Marseille. A club and a stadium, the Orange Vélodrome, in which I had the opportunity to feature as a player, is famous throughout Europe for the passion and fervor that emanates from it. I can’t wait to get to work with my new group and take on the next challenges that lie ahead”, said the 45-year-old head coach.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
