Olympique de Marseille have appointed Habib Beye as head coach on an 18-month contract following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi.
The decision ends a week of uncertainty at the club, with the former Marseille defender returning to a side he represented for four seasons as a player.
Olympique de Marseille have appointed Habib Beye as head coach on an 18-month contract following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi.
The decision ends a week of uncertainty at the club, with the former Marseille defender returning to a side he represented for four seasons as a player.
Internationals Amine Gouiri and Himad Abdelli now know the coach they must convince in the coming weeks.
Beye arrives in a challenging context.
Despite a squad widely regarded as strong, Marseille have won only four of their 11 matches played since the start of 2026.
Their run includes elimination at the group stage of the Champions League and a heavy 5-0 defeat against rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
The poor form has also affected their league position.
Marseille have slipped to fourth place in Ligue 1, overtaken by Olympique Lyonnais and sitting behind RC Lens and PSG.
A recovery mission
“The choice of Habib Beye as OM’s new coach is fully in line with our desire to recruit a manager with the necessary leadership to take charge of a group that obviously needs to be remobilized after a difficult period on the pitch. From our very first discussions, he seemed extremely committed and completely focused on the future, with clear objectives for everyone: to quickly get back to winning ways, aim for a place on the Ligue 1 podium, and try to win the Coupe de France in order to offer the people of Marseille a trophy,” said Director of Football Medhi Benatia after Beye’s arrival.
Gouiri, who played a key role under De Zerbi, will now be expected to confirm his importance under the new management, while Abdelli, a recent signing, must establish himself within the squad.
The appointment signals the start of a new phase for Marseille, with players now required to impress a coach familiar with the club’s expectations and tasked with restoring results.
