Olympique de Marseille announced Gennaro Gattuso as their new coach on Wednesday night, president Pablo Longoria tapping up the former Milan, Napoli and Valencia coach to replace Spaniard Marcelino, who resigned last week in the wake of ructions with he club's fanbase.
It has been a dramatic week or so for Olympique de Marseille, with Marcelino and his staff leaving in the lead-up to what turned out to be a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Classique rivals Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night.
Convinced of the urgency of the situation, Longoria immediately set about bringing in Gattuso who - as a result of going within an inch of clinching the Lyon job that went to compatriot Fabio gross - is right up to date with Marseille and the goings on in Ligue 1 Uber Eats.
Gattuso signed a contract that runs through to end of the season, at which time - if OM find themselves in the top four, ie, the Champions League places - an extension of one season will be triggered.
"I'm very happy and proud to be joining Olympique de Marseille," the 45-year-old coach told the club's website. "It's a club and a stadium, the Orange Vélodrome, where I had the opportunity to play as a player, and which is famous throughout Europe for the passion and fervour it exudes. I can't wait to get to work with my new squad and take on the challenges that lie ahead."
Gattuso's first challenge at the helm of the southern giants comes in the form of early-season pace-setters Monaco, whom OM take on in their Ligue 1 Uber Eats Round 7 clash at the Stade Louis II on Saturday night (Kick-off at 21:00 CET).
