Overview of the team
Olympique de Marseille Football Club, simply known as Marseille, is a French professional football club founded in 1899. The team is based in Marseille and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Marseille has a long history in French football and is one of the most successful clubs in France, with ten Ligue 1 titles, ten Coupes de France, three Coupes de la Ligue, and one UEFA Champions League title.
History of the team
Marseille was founded as a sports club in 1899 by René Dufaure de Montmirail, a Marseille sports enthusiast. In the early years, Marseille played rugby union until 1902 when they started playing football. In the 1920s, Marseille won their first major trophy, the Championnat de France amateur, and then became professional in 1932. From the 1960s to the 1990s, Marseille was one of the most dominant clubs in French football, winning ten Ligue 1 titles, and becoming the first French club to win the UEFA Champions League in 1993.
However, their success has sometimes been overshadowed by controversies, such as the 1993 match-fixing scandal, resulting in the team being relegated to Ligue 2, and the club suffering financial difficulties in the early 2010s.
Notable Players
Marseille has had many legendary players throughout its history, including:
– Jean-Pierre Papin: A French striker who won the Ballon d’Or in 1991, Papin scored 182 goals in 274 appearances for Marseille in the 1980s and 1990s.
– Abedi Pele: A Ghanaian midfielder who played for Marseille from 1987 to 1993, Pele won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles and the UEFA Champions League with Marseille.
– Didier Drogba: A Ivorian striker who played for Marseille from 2003 to 2004, Drogba scored 19 goals in 35 appearances and helped Marseille to reach the UEFA Cup final in 2004.
Coaches
Marseille has had many great coaches throughout its history, including:
– Marcelo Bielsa: An Argentine coach who guided Marseille to a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1 during the 2014-15 season.
– Didier Deschamps: A former Marseille player and captain, Deschamps coached Marseille from 2009 to 2012, winning the league title in 2010 and the Coupe de la Ligue in 2011.
– Raymond Goethals: A Belgian coach who led Marseille to win the UEFA Champions League in 1993.
Most Successful Season
Marseille’s most successful season was the 1992-93 season, when they won the UEFA Champions League, the French Ligue 1, and the Coupe de France. Marseille became the first French club to win the UEFA Champions League, defeating AC Milan in the final.
Owner
Marseille is currently owned by Frank McCourt, an American businessman who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. McCourt purchased the club in 2016 and has invested heavily in its infrastructure and facilities.
Stadium
Marseille plays its home matches at the Stade Vélodrome, also known as Orange Vélodrome for sponsorship reasons. The stadium has a capacity of nearly 67,000 and is one of the most iconic football stadiums in France.
In conclusion, Marseille has a rich history in French football, with many legendary players and coaches, and a strong reputation both domestically and internationally. Although the club has experienced controversy and financial difficulties in the past, its current owner and ambitious management team are working to position Marseille as a top European football club once again.
References:
Official OM Website
Olympique de Marseille – Wikipedia