Jorge Sampaoli has been appointed coach of Olympique de Marseille, while Pablo Longoria is the club’s new president, the former European champions announced on Friday evening.
Argentine Sampaoli, 60, has signed a contract until 2023 at the Orange Vélodrome to become the permanent successor on the Marseille bench to André Villas-Boas. He arrives after a year in Brazil in charge of Atletico Mineiro and previously won the 2015 Copa América with Chile and took Argentina to the 2018 World Cup. His only previous coaching role in Europe was at Sevilla.
“When I received this offer I dreamt of being able to come and have a party in this city. There are places in the world that are calm and places that are intense. The intense places are where I want to be and I accepted this offer without hesitation. This club has a soul and that is why I am here,” Sampaoli said in a statement released by OM.
It remains to be seen exactly when Sampaoli will arrive in Marseille, but interim boss Nasser Larguet is set to again lead the team into the Olympico against Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday.
Meanwhile the club also made the bombshell announcement that Jacques-Henri Eyraud is no longer president, with Spaniard Pablo Longoria promoted from his role as sporting director to replace Eyraud.
“This is a new chapter for Olympique de Marseille and I am committed to making it a real success,” said owner Frank McCourt.
