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Olympique de Marseille
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Olympique de Marseille (also known as l'OM ) is a professional French football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, they play in Ligue 1 and have spent most of their history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions eight times, and have won the Coupe de France ten times (a record) and became the first and only French club to win the UEFA Champions League in 1993.
Olympique de Marseille's home is the 60,031-person-capacity Stade Vélodrome football stadium in the south of the city, where they have played since 1937.
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Encyclopedia
Olympique de Marseille (also known as l'OM ) is a professional French football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, they play in Ligue 1 and have spent most of their history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions eight times, and have won the Coupe de France ten times (a record) and became the first and only French club to win the UEFA Champions League in 1993.
Olympique de Marseille's home is the 60,031-person-capacity Stade Vélodrome football stadium in the south of the city, where they have played since 1937. In 1997, they were bought by French and Swiss billionaire Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
Marseille's traditional kit colours are white shirts and shorts with white socks. The current crest was adopted in 2004. The club's motto Droit Au But (French for "Straight to the Goal") appears under the crest and a star representing the victory in the Champions League is featured on the top. The club enjoys a large fan base, with the highest average all-time attendance in French football. Their average home gate for the 2007–08 season was 52,600, the highest in the Ligue 1.
History
Beginnings of the team
According to André Gascard, a former OM player before WWI, coach and then archivist for the team, l'Olympique de Marseille, an omnisport club, was created in 1892, but the name Olympique de Marseille wasn't adopted until 1899 (Football Club de Marseille since 1897, before that Sporting Club and US Phocéenne). At the beginning Rugby union was the most important team sport of the club, the motto "Droit au but" coming from rugby. Affiliated with USFSA since 1898, it was only in 1902, thanks to English and German (still according to André Gascard), that football began to be played by l'OM. Richer and better organized than other football teams of Marseille (Sporting, Stade, Phocéenne. ..), l'OM, playing at the Stade de l'Huveaune, took the leadership in the city. In 1904, l'OM won the first Championnat du Littoral, opposing teams from Marseille and its suburbs, and took part in the final rounds of the eleventh French championship. At that time, the word "football" applied to rugby, and people used the word "Association" (which would be soccer in North America) for football.
During the twenties,l'OM became an important team in France, winning the Coupe de France in 1924, 1926 and 1927. The team won the French championship in 1929, defeating Club Français. The Coupe de France in 1924 was the club's first major title, won against FC Sète which dominated French football at the time. In the twenties, numerous French international such as Jules Dewaquez, Jean Boyer or Joseph Alcazar played for l'OM.In 1930, Marseille lost against FC Sète, which would be the winner, in the semi-final round. In 1931, the team became champion of the South-East, with victories against rivals such as FC Sète. In Coupe de France, l'OM lost in 5 matches to Club Français, winning the second match which was canceled due to the disqualification of the OM striker Vernicke. Even though the season 1931/32 was less successful, Marseille easily entered professionalism. In 1932, the team became a member of the union of professional clubs. On 13 January 1932 at 9:15 PM, at the Brasserie des Sports, Mr Dard, Mr Bison, Dr Rollenstein, Mr Etchepare, Mr Leblanc, Mr Mille, Mr Anfosso, Mr Sabatier, Mr Seze, Mr Bazat, Mr Molteroj and Mr Pollack elected the following committee:
Honour presidents : Paul Le Cesne et Fernand Bouisson President : M.Dard Vice-Presidents : Mr Leblanc, Mr Bison, Mr Etchepare, Dr Rollenstein et Mr Anfosso General secretary : Mr De Possel-Daydier Treasurer : Mr Bison helped by Mr Ribel. For the first championship, Division 1 was divided into two pools. Marseille finished second in the first, behind Lille OSC. For its first match of the championship l'OM defeated the future champion, Lille OSC.
In 1937, Marseille won its first professional French championship thanks to goal average (+30 for Marseille, +17 for FC Sochaux-Montbéliard).The arrival of Vasconcellos made the defence stronger , whereas former goalkeeper Laurent Di Lorto shone with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and France. In the meantime, Marseille won Coupe de France in 1935 and 1938 but failed a double success in 1934, due to FC Sète.
In 1938, Larbi Ben Barek signed with l'OM, and became "the black pearl" for the team but WWII would cut his career. The season 1942/43 is full of records:100 goals in 30 matches, including 20 in one match (20-2 against Avignon), in which Aznar scored 9 goals, including the first 8 (Marseille was leading 8-0), playing only 70 minutes. Aznar scored 45 goals in 30 matches, plus 11 in cup games, for a record of 56 goals in 38 matches. With the minots (young players) of the moment (Scotti, Robin, Dard, Pironti), Marseille won the cup in two matches against Bordeaux (4-0).
In 1948, thanks to a draw against Sochaux, Marseille became Champion of France. The two last victories at the Stade Vélodrome against Roubaix (6-0) and Metz (6-3) were important, as Aznar and Robin's returned in spring.
In 1952, Marseille was about to be relegated. But Gunnar Andersson saved his team, finishing best scorer (31 goals).The team won (5-3) on aggregate against Valenciennes.The same year, Marseille lost at the Stade Vélodrome against AS Saint-Étienne 10-3, but Liberati was injured. In 1953, Gunnar Andersson would take the record of goals scored in one season with 35.L'OM was runner-up in the Coupe de France (OGC Nice won 2-1) in 1954 and the Coupe Drago in 1957 to (RC Lens which won 3-1). Marseille was struggling at that time and was relegated for the first time in 1959. From 1959 to 1965, the team played in the second division except during the season 1962/63, finishing 20th out of 20 in first division. In 1965, Marcel Leclerc became president.
Marcel Leclerc era and crisis
The first period of OM's domination of the French League started in the early 70's, under Marcel Leclerc's presidency (1965-1972). His ambition allowed l'OM to return to the First division in 1965/66. They went on to win the Coupe de France in 1969 as well as the First division in 1971 with a record of 44 goals by Josip Skoblar, helped by Roger Magnusson. The arrival of Georges Carnus and Bernard Bosquier from AS Saint-Etienne helped them to win First division and the Coupe de France in 1972. Marseille played in the European Cup in 1971/72 and 1972/73 but were defeated by Ajax Amsterdam of Johan Cruyff and Juventus. However, success was not to last. Marcel Leclerc was forced to leave the club on 19 July 1972. The president was a stubborn man, and he threatened the whole league by threatening to withdraw his professional team from Division 1 because the federation refused to accept three foreign players in one team (Leclerc wanted to acquire the Hungarian star Zoltán Varga but he had already the maximum number of two foreigners in his team). But OM decided, instead of following Leclerc against the league, to fire him. Then followed an era of crisis with Marseille only winning a Coupe de France in 1976 and being relegated to the second division, where they played with a bunch of young local players: the "Minots" who allowed the team to return back to First division in 1984. Éric Di Meco was one of them.
Bernard Tapie era and OM/VA bribery scandal
On 12 April 1986, Bernard Tapie became president, thanks to Marseille mayor Gaston Defferre, and promptly built the greatest team ever seen in France. His first signings were Karl-Heinz Forster and Alain Giresse, who were bought after the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Tapie signed a large number of highly regarded players over the next few years in his pursuit of the European Cup, such as Jean-Pierre Papin, Chris Waddle, Klaus Allofs, Enzo Francescoli, Abedi Pelé, Didier Deschamps, Basile Boli, Marcel Desailly, Rudi Völler and Eric Cantona as well as appointing high-profile coaches like Franz Beckenbauer, Gérard Gili and Raymond Goethals. Between 1989 and 1992, l'OM won 4 League titles in a row and the French Cup. The highlight of the club's history is winning the new format Champions League in 1993. Basile Boli scored the only goal against Italy's A.C. Milan in the final held in Munich's Olympic Stadium. That triumph was the first time that a French club has won, and it made Didier Deschamps and Fabien Barthez the youngest captain and goalkeeper, respectively, to capture the title.
This, however, was followed by a decade of decline. In 1994, due to financial irregularities and a match fixing scandal involving then president Bernard Tapie, they suffered forced relegation to the second division, where Marseille stayed two years before coming back to First division. Moreover, they lost their 1992-1993 Division 1 title and the right to play in the UEFA Champions League 1993-94 and the Intercontinental Cup. This scandal, called l'affaire VA-OM (VA for Valenciennes FC and OM for Marseille), was denounced by Valenciennes, whose players Jacques Glassmann, Jorge Burruchaga and Christophe Robert were contacted by OM player Jean-Jacques Eydelie, in order to let OM win and, more importantly, not to injure any OM player ahead of the UEFA Champions League final.
Come back to success?
Marseille returned to the top flight in 1996 with backing from Adidas's owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus. He chose Rolland Courbis as coach, signed Fabrizio Ravanelli, Laurent Blanc and Andreas Köpke, and l'OM finished 11th for his return. For the 1998/99 season, the team celebrated his centenary and built a team of stars:Robert Pirès, Florian Maurice, and Christophe Dugarry, culminating in a second place finish in the French championship, behind Bordeaux and an appearance in the UEFA Cup Final in 1999, losing to Parma. Courbis left the team in November 1999, after a poor start to the season. The closest Marseille to get another trophy was when they reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2004, impressively beating Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Inter Milan, Liverpool and Newcastle United along the way. But they were beaten in the final by newly-crowned Spanish champions Valencia and once again fans were forced to continue waiting for the next trophy to come along.
Recently, Marseille succeeded in winning the 2005 Intertoto Cup, beating the likes of SS Lazio and Deportivo La Coruna in doing so, and earning another shot at the UEFA Cup.
In January 2007, there was negotiation between Dreyfus and Jack Kachkar, a Canadian doctor and businessman (CEO of pharmaceutical company Inyx), about the selling of the club. As Jack Kachkar took too much time to buy the team, Robert Louis-Dreyfus decided on 22 March 2007 not to sell to the Canadian businessman.
Another close call to glory was in the French Cup final against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in May 2007, however, they lost on penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time, to the disappointment of everyone linked with the club, but they soon wiped all that disappointment away by qualifying for the 2007/2008 UEFA Champions League group stage, after securing 2nd place with a game to go.
In the Champions League, Marseille shocked Europe, by becoming the first French team to win at Anfield when they beat 2007 runners-up Liverpool 1-0, and the team took 6 out of 6 points from their opening two games. However, they only drew one more match, and in a winner takes all final group game they lost 4-0 to Liverpool, who became the first English team to win at the Stade Vélodrome. Marseille coming third in the Champions League Group A resultantly qualified for the UEFA Cup.
Marseille finished the 2007-2008 season with a third place finish in Ligue 1, earning them a birth in the 3rd and final qualifying round of the Champions' League. This is Marseille's second consecutive season in the Champions League.
Stadium
From 1904 to 1937, Marseille played at the Stade de l'Huveaune. The club was the owner of the venue, contrary to its current stadium. L'Huveaune, a time named "Stade Fernand Buisson" in honour of a former rugby player of the club who became deputee was renovated at the beginning of the twenties, thanks to supporter's financial help. It had a capacity of . After 1937, l'OM used this venue under Marcel Leclerc's presidency in order to compel the city of Marseille to lower the rent of Stade Vélodrome and during the renovation of Vélodrome for Euro 1984, during the 1982/83 season. The stadium again underwent redevelopment in time for the 1998 World Cup and was transformed into an immense ground composed of two kop ends (Virage Nord and Virage Sud - North Curve and South Curve) which house the supporters groups as well as the main stand, Jean Bouin, and the imposing Ganay stand. Today, the team regularly fills their impressive home, the Stade Vélodrome, which seats 60,013.
Supporters hope the municipality will cover the stadium and increase its capacity.
Before the start of each home game the song Jump by Van Halen is heard.
When a goal is scored by Marseille in their home matches the song Come with Me by Puff Daddy is played.
Supporters
The atmosphere in the Stade Vélodrome is created by the dominance of OM's own supporters who are housed in the kop style ends behind the goals.
Virage Nord-Patrice de Peretti
The North Curve is home to the Yankee Nord Marseille, Marseille Trop Puissant, Fanatics, and Dodgers supporters associations who buy up the tickets at the start of each season and sell them on to their members. The Virage Nord is situated next to the away enclosure which is protected by high fences.
In 2002, the Virage Nord was officially given the name of Patrice de Peretti (1972-2000), the late founder and leader of the supporters group Marseille Trop Puissant.
Virage Sud
As with the Virage Nord, the South Curve is controlled by supporter's associations with the Commando Ultras 1984 and the South Winners dominating the central section and Amis de l'OM and Club Central des Supporteurs filling the remaining sections of the stand.
Livorno - AEK - Marseille
There is a strong relationship between AS Livorno, AEK Athens, and Olympique Marseille. Marseille fans often lift banners and create choreography in support of the fellow teams.
Olympique de Marseille seasons
Records
- Only French team ever to have won the Champions League/European Cup : 1993
- Most French Cup Titles: 10 (1924, 1926, 1927, 1935, 1938, 1943, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1989).
- Fewest number of goals allowed during one season : 21 goals allowed (1991-1992).
- Most away victories in one Season: 12 (1971-1972). (record shared with Saint-Etienne and Lyon).
- Most Goals during one season : Josip Skoblar, 44 league goals and European Golden Boot in 1970-1971.
Honours
Marseille's tally of eight Championships is the second highest in French football, after AS Saint-Étienne, while the total of ten Cups is the highest. Marseille have achieved two Championship and Cup "Doubles" (in 1972 and 1989).
They were also the first French club to win the UEFA Champions League, in 1993.
International titles
National titles
- Division 1/Ligue 1
- Winners (8) : 1937, 1948, 1971, 1972, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
- Runners-up (8) : 1938, 1939, 1970, 1975, 1987, 1994, 1999, 2007
- Division 2
- Winners (1) : 1995
- Runners-up (1) : 1966, 1984, 1996
- Coupe de France
- Winners (10 - record) : 1924, 1926, 1927, 1935, 1938, 1943, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1989
- Runners-up (8) : 1934, 1940, 1954, 1986, 1987, 1991, 2006, 2007.
- Challenge des champions
- Winners (1) : 1971
- Runners-up (2) : 1969, 1972
- Coupe Charles Drago
- Championnat de France Amateurs
- Championnat de France USFSA
Regional titles
- Championnat DH Sud-Est
- Winners (4) : 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931
- Runners-up (4) : 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925
- Championnat USFSA Littoral
- Winners (6) : 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1919
- Runners-up (6) : 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914
Friendly competitions
- 1 Tournament of Bruxelles (1937)
- 1 Ludo Coeck Trophy (1987)
- 1 Tournament of Auxerre (1988)
- 1 Tournament of Marseille (1990)
- 1 Tournament of Paris (1991)
- 1 Tournoi de l'Amitié (1992)
- 1 Mediterranean Cup (1995)
- 1 Coupe des Rois (2000)
- 1 Défi Celte TV Breizh (2001)
- 1 Ciutat de Barcelona Trophy (2005)
- 1 Challenge Michel Moretti (2008)
Players
Current squad
As of 4 February 2009.
Out on loan
Notable players
For a complete list of former Olympique de Marseille players with a Wikipedia article, see :Category:Olympique de Marseille players.
France
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Belgium
Bosnia
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Ivory Coast
Croatia
Egypt
Germany
Ghana
England
Ireland
Italy
Liberia
Mali
Morocco
Poland
Portugal
Netherlands
Russia
Senegal
Serbia
Spain
South Africa
Sweden
Switzerland
Uruguay
Ballon d'Or
The following players have won the Ballon d'Or whilst playing for Olympique de Marseille:
European Golden Shoe
The following players have won the European Golden Shoe whilst playing for Olympique de Marseille:
Notable managers and chairmen
Managers
Chairmen
Footnotes
External links
Official club website
at the French League official website
at the UEFA official website
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