José Anigo Addresses Pape Diouf’s Criticism of Olympique de Marseille and Reflects on His Own Career
José Anigo, the former coach and sporting director of Olympique de Marseille, has used a recent interview to respond directly to criticism from Pape Diouf, the club’s former president, who has often been outspoken about the current state of OM. Speaking with L’Equipe after a press conference, Anigo took the opportunity to address Diouf’s comments about the club’s operations and defended his own stance on matters concerning the club’s management.
While acknowledging Diouf’s intelligence and cultural background, Anigo did not shy away from pointing out that the former president’s approach to commenting on OM has sometimes been overly negative. “Pape is a cultured man. He doesn’t only have qualities, and he hasn’t done everything right either. I want to tell him: ‘Move on.’ It’s good to comment on OM’s current affairs, but it’s better not to always do it in a negative way,” Anigo stated. He went on to emphasize that Diouf, despite his love for the club, should allow the current leadership to do their job without constantly undermining them. “Eventually, he’ll end up tiring those who consider him a quality president. He loves OM. He should let the people in place work,” Anigo added.
The former Marseille manager also reflected on his relationship with Didier Deschamps, who has since become the manager of the French national team. Anigo admitted that his relationship with Deschamps had started well but ultimately turned sour. “Deschamps? It’s a regret. The first year, things worked out pretty well between us. I don’t want to go back to that,” he said. Despite this, Anigo made it clear that he would continue to support France at the World Cup, showing a level of professionalism in his comments despite the personal regrets.
Anigo also weighed in on the management style of his predecessor, Elie Baup, who followed him as the head coach of OM. When questioned about Baup’s role in recruitment and team formation, Anigo asserted that, while the coach has a significant influence on the team, it ultimately falls to the president and sporting director to take charge of building the squad. “Is Baup the one who’s ultimately responsible for recruiting, the teams he’s putting together, and the results? I don’t think so. In every club, there’s one person in charge: generally, it’s the president. And then there’s the sporting director. They’re the ones in charge of building the squad,” Anigo explained.
As Anigo prepares to leave his current position, it’s clear that his tenure has been filled with both personal triumphs and professional challenges. Despite the tension with figures like Diouf and Deschamps, Anigo’s focus remains on his commitment to the sport and his respect for the institution of Olympique de Marseille. His comments have sparked further reflection on the complexities of leadership and decision-making within one of France’s most prominent football clubs.
