Olympique de Marseille has officially severed ties with first-team coach Roberto De Zerbi through a mutual separation agreement. This decisive move follows a period of significant sporting setbacks for the French club, including a devastating 5-0 defeat to arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain and a recent elimination from the Champions League after a 3-0 loss to Club Brugge.
The Italian manager, who previously managed Brighton & Hove Albion for nearly two years, assumed leadership at Marseille in the summer of 2024. Under his guidance last season, the team achieved a respectable second-place finish in Ligue 1. At the time of his departure, Marseille occupies fourth position in the league table, trailing leaders PSG by a substantial 12-point margin.
In an official communiqué, the club’s administration detailed that this conclusion resulted from extensive deliberations among key stakeholders, including the owner, president, director of football, and the coach himself. The statement characterized the decision as collectively challenging but necessary, emphasizing it was reached after thorough consideration to address the critical sporting objectives remaining in the current season. The leadership affirmed the move was executed with the club’s best interests at heart to navigate upcoming challenges effectively.