Olympique de Marseille (also known as
l'OM, is a professional
FrenchFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
football club based in
MarseilleMarseille , formerly known as Massalia , is the 2nd most populous French city as well as the oldest city in France...
. Founded in 1899, they play in
Ligue 1Ligue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
and have spent most of their history in the top tier of
French footballFootball in France is governed by the French Football Federation . The FFF organises both the men's and women's national football teams. Notably AS Monaco, a club from the independent sovereign state of Monaco, play in French competition...
. Marseille have been
French championsThe French football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in France. Since its inauguration in 1932, the title has been contested through the professional Ligue 1 championship...
eight times, and have won the
Coupe de FranceCoupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
ten times (a record) and became the first and only French club to win the
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
in 1993.
Olympique de Marseille's home is the 60,031-person-capacity
Stade VélodromeThe Stade Vélodrome is a 60,013 capacity stadium in Marseille, France. It is the home ground of top French football club Olympique de Marseille and was also a venue in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It is the largest club football ground in France...
football stadium in the south of the city, where they have played since 1937. In 1997, they were bought by
FrancoFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
-
SwissSwitzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 states named cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities...
billionaire
Robert Louis-DreyfusRobert Louis-Dreyfus aka RLD was a Franco-Swiss business man who had major success as CEO of Adidas-Salomon and at Saatchi & Saatchi. He was a majority shareholder of Olympique de Marseille and during his tenure they re emerged as a major European football club.-Early life:RLD was born in Paris...
.
Marseille's traditional kit colours are
white White is a color, the perception which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
shirts and shorts with
white White is a color, the perception which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
socks. The current badge was adopted in 2004. The club's motto
Droit Au But (
FrenchFrench is a Romance language globally spoken by about 65 million people as a first language , by 50 million as a second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired foreign language, with significant speakers in 57 countries. Most native speakers of the language live in France,...
for "Straight to the Goal") appears under the badge 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 2008–09 season was 52,276, the highest in the Ligue 1.
Beginnings of the team
Olympique de Marseille was founded by René Dufaure de Montmirail, a French sport official, in
1892The following are the association football events of the year 1892 throughout the world.-Clubs founded in 1892:*Bromley F.C.*Cheltenham Town F.C.*Droylsden F.C.*Liverpool F.C.*Newcastle United F.C.*Club de Deportes Santiago Wanderers...
, as an omnisport club. Known as Sporting Club, US Phocéenne, and Football Club de Marseille in the first five years after its founding, the club adopted the name Olympique de Marseille in 1899. At first,
Rugby unionRugby union is a full contact team sport, a form of football which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball, outdoors on a level field, usually with a grass surface, 100 m...
was the most important team sport of the club, the motto
Droit au but coming from rugby. Affiliated with
USFSAUnion des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques is a former French sporting federation. During the 1890s and early 1900s it organised numerous sports including athletics, cycling, field hockey, fencing, croquet and swimming...
since 1898, it was only in 1902, thanks to English and German (still according to André Gascard), that football began to be played by Olympique de Marseille. Richer and better organized than other football teams of Marseille (Sporting, Stade, Phocéenne. ..), Olympique de Marseille, playing at the
Stade de l'Huveaune, took the leadership in the city. In 1904, Olympique de Marseille 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, Olympique de Marseille became an important team in France, winning the
Coupe de FranceCoupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
in 1924, 1926 and 1927. The team won the French championship in 1929, defeating Club Français. The
Coupe de FranceCoupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
in 1924 was the club's first major title, won against
FC SèteFC Sète 34 is a French football club founded in 1900. The club won the French league twice and the French cup also twice . In 1934 they became the first club to win the French league and cup double....
which dominated French football at the time. In the twenties, numerous French internationals such as
Jules DewaquezJules Dewaquez , was a French amateur footballer, who played for both club and country on the right wing. He was extremely short and renowned for his small moustache. By profession he was a technical draughtsman, but he became one of the most successful French players during the 1920s...
, Jean Boyer or
Joseph AlcazarJoseph Alcazar was a French former football striker. He was part of France national football team at the FIFA World Cup 1934.- Olympique de Marseille:* Coupe de France: 1934* Coupe de France runner-up : 1934...
played for Marseille.In 1930, Marseille lost against 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 Sète. In
Coupe de FranceCoupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
,
l'OM lost in 5 matches to Club Français, winning the second match which was canceled due to the disqualification of the Marseille striker Vernicke. Even though the 1931-32 season 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. Possel-Daydier
Treasurer: Mr Bison (assisted by Mr Ribel).
For the first championship, Division 1 was divided into two pools. Marseille finished second in the first, behind
Lille OSCLille Olympique Sporting Club is a French football club. Based in the northern city of Lille founded in 1944 from the merger of the Olympique Lillois and the SC Fives .-Formation:...
. For its first match of the championship, Marseille defeated the future champion, Lille.
In 1937, Marseille won its first professional French championship thanks to goal average (+30 for Marseille, +17 for
FC Sochaux-MontbéliardFootball Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French football team which plays in the town of Montbéliard.The club was founded in 1928 as a works team for the Peugeot motor car factory in the village of Sochaux...
). The arrival of Vasconcellos made the defence stronger, whereas former goalkeeper
Laurent Di LortoLaurent Di Lorto was a French football goalkeeper. He was France's goalkeeper at 1938 FIFA World Cup.-External links and references:*http://www.fff.fr/servfff/historique/historique.php?id=DI%20LORTO%20Laurent...
shone with
SochauxFootball Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French football team which plays in the town of Montbéliard.The club was founded in 1928 as a works team for the Peugeot motor car factory in the village of Sochaux...
and
FranceThe France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation and competes as a member of UEFA....
. In the meantime, Marseille won the
Coupe de FranceCoupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
in 1935 and 1938 but failed a double success in 1934, due to
FC SèteFC Sète 34 is a French football club founded in 1900. The club won the French league twice and the French cup also twice . In 1934 they became the first club to win the French league and cup double....
.
In 1938, Larbi Ben Barek signed with Marseille and became "the black pearl" for the team.
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
would cut his career short. The 1942-43 season was 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
FC Girondins de BordeauxFC Girondins de Bordeaux is a French football team based in the city of Bordeaux.The club was founded in 1881 as an omnisport club. The Girondins won the French league in 1950, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1999 and are the current champions with a first place finish in 2009...
(4-0).
In 1948, thanks to a draw against
SochauxFootball Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French football team which plays in the town of Montbéliard.The club was founded in 1928 as a works team for the Peugeot motor car factory in the village of Sochaux...
, Marseille became the champions of France. The two last victories at the
Stade VélodromeThe Stade Vélodrome is a 60,013 capacity stadium in Marseille, France. It is the home ground of top French football club Olympique de Marseille and was also a venue in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It is the largest club football ground in France...
against Roubaix (6-0) and
FC MetzFootball Club de Metz is a French football team, playing in the town of Metz, in the Lorraine region, which has played in the French Ligue 1 for most of its history.- History of the club :...
(6-3) were important, as Aznar and Robin's returned in spring.
In 1952, Marseille was about to be relegated, but
Gunnar AnderssonGunnar Andersson, was a football player from Sweden. He is widely considered as one of Olympique de Marseille best strikers, along with Josip Skoblar and Jean-Pierre Papinby who?....
saved his team, finishing as best scorer with 31 goals. The team won (5-3) on aggregate against US Valenciennes.The same year, Marseille lost at the
Stade VélodromeThe Stade Vélodrome is a 60,013 capacity stadium in Marseille, France. It is the home ground of top French football club Olympique de Marseille and was also a venue in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It is the largest club football ground in France...
against
AS Saint-ÉtienneAssociation Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire, are a French football team founded in 1920. They play their home games at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the city of Saint Étienne. They are also one of the most successful teams in French Football history, with honours including 10 French First...
10-3, but Liberati was injured. In 1953, Gunnar Andersson would take the record of goals scored in one season with 35. Marseille was runner-up in the
Coupe de FranceCoupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
(
OGC NiceOlympique Gymnaste Club de Nice-Côte d'Azur, commonly referred to as OGC Nice or simply Nice, is a French football club based in Nice...
won 2-1) in 1954 and the
Coupe Drago in 1957 to (
RC LensRacing Club de Lens is a French football club which plays in the northern city of Lens, in the Pas-de-Calais département. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
which won 3-1). Marseille were struggling at the time and were relegated for the first time in 1959. From 1959 to 1965, the team played in the second division, except during the 1962/63 season, finishing 20th out of 20 in the first division. In 1965, Marcel Leclerc became president.
Marcel Leclerc era and crisis
The first period of Olympique de Marseille's domination of the French League started in the early 70's under Marcel Leclerc's presidency (1965-1972). His ambition allowed Marseille to return to the
First divisionLigue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
in 1965-66. They went on to win the
Coupe de FranceCoupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
in 1969 as well as the
First divisionLigue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
in 1971 with a record of 44 goals by
Josip SkoblarJosip Skoblar is a former Yugoslavian football player and manager. He was primarily a forward, and also capable of playing on both wings.-Club:...
, helped by
Roger MagnussonRoger Magnusson is a former football player from Sweden. He's a brother of fellow footballer Benno Magnusson....
. The arrival of
Georges CarnusGeorges Carnus Georges Carnus Georges Carnus (born 13 August, 1942 is a French former football goalkeeper.-Biography:He was selected in France for FIFA World Cup 1966 in England but remained Marcel Aubour's substitute.He later signed with AS Saint-Étienne, winning his first titles.His successes...
and
Bernard BosquierBernard Bosquier is a French former football defender.-Biography:Bernard Bosquier came up from Olympique Alès, and signed with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in 1961, where he became a strong defender and earned his first cap for France on 2 December, 1964 against Belgium.He was then part of France squad...
from
Saint-ÉtienneAssociation Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire, are a French football team founded in 1920. They play their home games at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the city of Saint Étienne. They are also one of the most successful teams in French Football history, with honours including 10 French First...
helped them to win the
Ligue 1Ligue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
and the Coupe de France in 1972. Marseille played in the
European CupThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
in 1971-72 and 1972-73 but were defeated by AFC Ajax of
Johan CruijffHendrik Johannes Cruijff , commonly known as Johan Cruyff, is a former Dutch footballer and manager. He was named European Footballer of the Year three times which is a record jointly held with Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten...
and
JuventusJuventus Football Club , commonly referred to as Juventus and familiarly as Juve, is an Italian professional football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
. 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
Ligue 1Ligue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
because the federation refused to accept three foreign players in one team (Leclerc wanted to acquire the
HungarianHungary , in English officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Its capital is Budapest. Hungary is a member of OECD, NATO, EU, V4 and is a Schengen state...
star
Zoltán VargaZoltán Varga is a former Hungarian football player who played in the 1960s and 1970s.He was an Olympic gold medalist at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He played for Ferencváros when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1965, beating Juventus 1-0 in the final...
but he had already the maximum number of two foreigners in his team). But Marseille decided, instead of following Leclerc against the league, to fire him. Then followed an era of crisis with Marseille only winning a
Coupe de FranceCoupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
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 divisionLigue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
in 1984.
Éric Di MecoÉric Di Meco is a former French footballer, who played as a left defender.-Football career:During his career, Di Meco played mostly for Olympique de Marseille; after starting as a midfielder, and serving loans at AS Nancy and FC Martigues, he returned definitely in 1988, going on to amass a...
was one of them.
Bernard Tapie era and OM/VA bribery scandal
On 12 April 1986,
Bernard TapieBernard Tapie is a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Ministre de la Ville in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy, until his resignation in May 1992 because of his indictment by the French justice.- Biography :La Vie Claire, one of Tapie's former...
became president, thanks to
MarseilleMarseille , formerly known as Massalia , is the 2nd most populous French city as well as the oldest city in France...
mayor
Gaston DefferreGaston Defferre was a French socialist politician.Lawyer and member of the French Section of the Workers' International political party, he was a member of the Brutus Network, a Resistance Socialist group during World War II...
, and promptly built the greatest team ever seen in France. His first signings were Karl-Heinz Forster and
Alain GiresseAlain Giresse was a French professional football midfielder. He played for the France national football team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup and the 1986 FIFA World Cup...
, who were bought after the
1986 FIFA World CupThe 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. It was won by Argentina , who beat West Germany 3–2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.-Host selection:...
. 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 PapinJean-Pierre Papin is a French professional football player who was European Footballer of the Year in 1991.Papin achieved his greatest success while playing for Olympique Marseille between 1986 and 1992...
,
Chris WaddleChristopher Roland Waddle is a former English professional footballer. He currently co-commentates for ESPN's English Premier League football coverage.-Early career:...
,
Klaus AllofsKlaus Allofs is a former German footballer, who played as a striker.A prolific goalscorer for club and country, his younger brother, Thomas, was also a professional footballer – and a striker.-Club career:...
,
Enzo FrancescoliEnzo Francescoli Uriarte is a former Uruguayan football player of Italian and Spanish origin, who retired in 1997. He played 72 times for the Uruguay national team between 1982 and 1997, making him the most capped outfield player in Uruguayan international football...
,
Abedi PeléAbédi Ayew, also known as Abédi "Pelé" is a former Ghana International football player and captain. He was named African Footballer of the Year in 1991, 1992 and 1993...
,
Didier DeschampsDidier Claude Deschamps ) , is a former French football player who captained France to victories in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.-Club career:...
,
Basile BoliBasile Boli is a French former footballer and current television sports presenter.-Career:Although born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Boli moved to France at an early age and began his career in local youth football in Paris before signing for AJ Auxerre in 1982...
,
Marcel DesaillyMarcel Desailly is a former French footballer and star of the France national football team squad, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000...
,
Rudi VöllerRudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team...
and
Eric CantonaEric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French former footballer of the late 1980s and 1990s, turned actor. He ended his professional footballing career at Manchester United where he won four Premier League titles in five years, including two League and FA Cup Doubles.Cantona is often regarded as having...
as well as appointing high-profile coaches like
Franz BeckenbauerFranz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
,
Gérard GiliGérard Gili is a French football manager. He is currently managing Umm-Salal Sports Club of Qatar.He was promoted from within...
and
Raymond GoethalsRaymond Goethals was a Belgian football coach who notably led Marseille to victory in the UEFA Champions League final in 1993, becoming the first coach to win a European trophy with a French club....
. Between 1989 and 1992, Olympique de Marseille won 4 League titles in a row and the French Cup. The highlight of the club's history is winning the new format
Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
in 1993.
Basile BoliBasile Boli is a French former footballer and current television sports presenter.-Career:Although born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Boli moved to France at an early age and began his career in local youth football in Paris before signing for AJ Auxerre in 1982...
scored the only goal against Italy's
A.C. MilanAssociazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan and as just Milan in Italy, is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy...
in the final held in
MunichMunich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg...
's Olympic Stadium. That triumph was the first time ever for a french club and it made
Didier DeschampsDidier Claude Deschamps ) , is a former French football player who captained France to victories in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.-Club career:...
and
Fabien BarthezFabien Alain Barthez is a former French football goalkeeper who won honours with Manchester United and the French national team, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 World Cup. He shares the record for the most World Cup finals clean sheets with...
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 TapieBernard Tapie is a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Ministre de la Ville in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy, until his resignation in May 1992 because of his indictment by the French justice.- Biography :La Vie Claire, one of Tapie's former...
, they suffered forced relegation to
the second divisionLigue 2 is the second division of French football. It is one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 1, which is France's top division.The 20 clubs that make up Ligue 2 play each other twice during the season, creating a 38-match schedule...
, where Marseille stayed two years before coming back to
First divisionLigue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
. Moreover, they lost their 1992-93 Division 1 title and the right to play in the
UEFA Champions League 1993-94The 1993–94 UEFA Champions League was the 39th edition of UEFA's top club football tournament, and the second since the tournament was rebranded as the UEFA Champions League. The competition was won by A.C. Milan, their fifth title, beating Barcelona 4–0 in the final...
and the
Intercontinental CupThe European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
. This scandal, called
l'affaire VA-OM (VA for
Union Sportive Valenciennes-AnzinThe Valenciennes Football Club is a French football club from the town of Valenciennes in the Nord department. The club was founded in 1913. In the 2005-06 season, it competed in Ligue 2 , with Francis Decourrière as general manager and Antoine Kombouaré as head coach...
and OM for Olympique de Marseille), was denounced by
ValenciennesValenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
, whose players
Jacques GlassmannJacques Glassmann is a former footballer from France.He is famous for having revealed the bribery scandal involving Olympique de Marseille and his team US Valenciennes...
,
Jorge BurruchagaJorge Luis Burruchaga is a former Argentine professional football player, and currently manager of Arsenal de Sarandí in the Primera División Argentina...
and
Christophe RobertChristophe Robert is a former footballer from France.He is famous for having been involved in the bribery scandal involving Olympique de Marseille and his team US Valenciennes...
were contacted by Marseille player
Jean-Jacques EydelieJean-Jacques Eydelie is a French former footballer most noted for his role in the Marseille match-fixing scandal of 1993. A midfielder, Eydelie began his career with Nantes, before joining Marseille in 1992...
, in order to let OM win and, more importantly, not to injure any OM player ahead of the
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
final.
Return to success?
Marseille returned to the top flight in 1996 with backing from
AdidasAdidas AG is a German-based sports apparel manufacturer and part of the Adidas Group, which consists of Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-adidas golf company, and Rockport. Besides sports footwear, the company also produces other products such as bags, shirts, watches, eyewear and other sports...
's owner
Robert Louis-DreyfusRobert Louis-Dreyfus aka RLD was a Franco-Swiss business man who had major success as CEO of Adidas-Salomon and at Saatchi & Saatchi. He was a majority shareholder of Olympique de Marseille and during his tenure they re emerged as a major European football club.-Early life:RLD was born in Paris...
. He chose
Rolland CourbisRolland Courbis Rolland Courbis Rolland Courbis (born 12 August, 1953 is a French former football defender, last managing Montpellier HSC.-Titles:As a player*French championship in 1978, 1982 with AS Monaco*Coupe de France 1980 with AS Monaco*Super League Greece 1974 with Olympiacos...
as coach, signed
Fabrizio RavanelliFabrizio Ravanelli is a former Italian football player.Ravanelli was born in Perugia. He has played with a dozen European teams, among them Perugia, Juventus, Lazio, Marseille, Middlesbrough, Derby County and Dundee F.C., as well as getting 22 caps with the Italian national team...
,
Laurent BlancLaurent Robert Blanc is a French football manager and former defender, who scored the first golden goal in World Cup history. He was known as a surprisingly high-scoring defender, although in his early career he often operated as a midfielder...
, and
Andreas KöpkeAndreas Köpke is a former German football goalkeeper, who was in the German squad that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and was also part of the 1994 FIFA World Cup squad...
, and Marseille finished 11th for his return. For the 1998-99 season, the team celebrated his centenary and built a team of stars:
Robert PirèsRobert Emmanuel Pirès is a French footballer who currently plays as a winger for Villarreal CF of the Spanish La Liga. He normally plays on the left wing but can play all across the midfield or in a position to support the striker...
,
Florian MauriceFlorian Maurice is a French former football player, who played as a striker, and most notably won the 1998 Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue with French team Paris Saint-Germain...
, and
Christophe DugarryChristophe Jérôme Dugarry is a former French footballer. His clubs include Bordeaux, Milan, Barcelona, Marseille, Birmingham City and Qatar SC. He was also a member of the France side that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000....
, culminating in a second place finish in the French championship, behind
BordeauxFC Girondins de Bordeaux is a French football team based in the city of Bordeaux.The club was founded in 1881 as an omnisport club. The Girondins won the French league in 1950, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1999 and are the current champions with a first place finish in 2009...
and an appearance in the
UEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is a competition for eligible European football clubs; the second most prestigious European football contest after the UEFA Champions League. It is an annual football cup competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations...
Final in 1999, losing to
ParmaParma Football Club is an Italian football club based in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, that are competing in the 2009-10 Serie A season. The club plays its home matches in the 27,906 seat Stadio Ennio Tardini...
.
CourbisRolland Courbis Rolland Courbis Rolland Courbis (born 12 August, 1953 is a French former football defender, last managing Montpellier HSC.-Titles:As a player*French championship in 1978, 1982 with AS Monaco*Coupe de France 1980 with AS Monaco*Super League Greece 1974 with Olympiacos...
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 CupThe UEFA Europa League is a competition for eligible European football clubs; the second most prestigious European football contest after the UEFA Champions League. It is an annual football cup competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations...
Final in 2004, impressively beating Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, Internazionale,
LiverpoolLiverpool Football Club is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club plays in the Premier League, and has won more trophies than any other English club...
, and
Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United Football Club is an English football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, they play in the Football League Championship. And are renowned for having a very good fan base...
along the way. But they were beaten in the final by newly-crowned Spanish champions
Valencia CFValencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish professional football club based in Valencia. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish football...
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
LazioSocietà Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as simply Lazio, is an Italian professional sports club most noted for its football section, founded in 1900 and based in Rome...
and Deportivo La Coruña in doing so, and earning another shot at the UEFA Cup.
In January 2007, there was negotiation between Dreyfus and
Jack KachkarJack Kachkar is CEO of Inyx, Inc, a speciality in pharmaceutical company founded in 2003. In addition to focusing on investments in the healthcare industry, Jack Kachkar also currently manages his family's real estate, property development and commodity investments.Kachkar was born in Damascus,...
, a Canadian doctor and businessman (CEO of pharmaceutical company Inyx), about the selling of the club. As
Jack KachkarJack Kachkar is CEO of Inyx, Inc, a speciality in pharmaceutical company founded in 2003. In addition to focusing on investments in the healthcare industry, Jack Kachkar also currently manages his family's real estate, property development and commodity investments.Kachkar was born in Damascus,...
took too much time to buy the team,
Robert Louis-DreyfusRobert Louis-Dreyfus aka RLD was a Franco-Swiss business man who had major success as CEO of Adidas-Salomon and at Saatchi & Saatchi. He was a majority shareholder of Olympique de Marseille and during his tenure they re emerged as a major European football club.-Early life:RLD was born in Paris...
decided on 22 March 2007 not to sell to the Canadian businessman.
Another close call to glory was in the French Cup final against
SochauxFootball Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French football team which plays in the town of Montbéliard.The club was founded in 1928 as a works team for the Peugeot motor car factory in the village of Sochaux...
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 2007-08 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
AnfieldAnfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, in Liverpool, England. Built in 1884, the stadium has been home to Liverpool F.C. since they were formed in 1892 as a result of the original tenants Everton F.C...
when they beat 2007 runners-up
LiverpoolLiverpool Football Club is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club plays in the Premier League, and has won more trophies than any other English club...
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 VélodromeThe Stade Vélodrome is a 60,013 capacity stadium in Marseille, France. It is the home ground of top French football club Olympique de Marseille and was also a venue in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It is the largest club football ground in France...
. Marseille, coming third in the Champions League Group A, resulted in qualification for the
UEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is a competition for eligible European football clubs; the second most prestigious European football contest after the UEFA Champions League. It is an annual football cup competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations...
.
Marseille finished the 2008-09 season with a second place finish in Ligue 1, following a tight race with Girondins de Bordeaux for the title. This earned them a direct entry into the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, their third 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
rugbyRugby football may refer to a number of sports through history descended from a common form of football developed in different areas of the United Kingdom. Today it refers to either rugby league or rugby union.- History :...
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
MarseilleMarseille , formerly known as Massalia , is the 2nd most populous French city as well as the oldest city in France...
to lower the rent of
Stade VélodromeThe Stade Vélodrome is a 60,013 capacity stadium in Marseille, France. It is the home ground of top French football club Olympique de Marseille and was also a venue in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It is the largest club football ground in France...
and during the renovation of
VélodromeThe Stade Vélodrome is a 60,013 capacity stadium in Marseille, France. It is the home ground of top French football club Olympique de Marseille and was also a venue in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It is the largest club football ground in France...
for Euro 1984, during the 1982/83 season. The stadium again underwent redevelopment in time for the
1998 World Cup1998 World Cup may refer to:*1998 IAAF World Cup*1998 Men's Hockey World Cup*1998 Women's Hockey World Cup*1998 FIFA World Cup...
and was transformed into an immense ground composed of two
CurvaCurva is an Italian term or name for a number of stands located at sports stadia, particularly in Italy; so named, originally, due to their curved or bending shape...
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
JumpJumping is to propel oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne.Jump may refer to:* A step in a jump process or in jump diffusion.* A tool redirecting horizontal velocity into vertical, e.g...
by
Van HalenVan Halen is a hard rock band formed in , USA in 1974. They enjoyed success from the release of their self titled debut album in 1978. As of 2007, Van Halen has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide and have had the most number one hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
is heard.
When a goal is scored by Marseille in their home matches the song
Come with Me"Come with Me" is a song by Puff Daddy & Jimmy Page that was featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 Godzilla film. The song recreates the Led Zeppelin song "Kashmir", with Jimmy Page's approval. Page and producer Tom Morello also supplied live guitar parts . The song also features heavy...
by Puff Daddy is played.
Badge
Club founder René Dufaure de Montmirail drew inspiration from his personal seal, which featured interlaced letters "D" and "M", to create the club's first badge. The club's motto,
"Droit au but", dates from the days when the club's main sport was rugby, under the name "Football Club de Marseille". The original badge featured an ornate letter "M" superimposed over an "O", with the club motto draped across the glyph. The logo persisted for three decades, until 1935, when an
art decoArt Deco was a popular international art design movement from 1925 until the 1940s, affecting the decorative arts such as architecture, interior design, and industrial design, as well as the visual arts such as fashion, painting, the graphic arts, and film...
shield was adopted, with a simple "M" encased within the "O". In 1972, Olympique redesigned its logo, this time preferring a
kitschKitsch is a German word denoting art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap...
y aesthetic, with a complex "M" letterform. In 1986, the club re-adopted its first badge; the logo evolved slightly over the next few decades, gaining a star in 1993 to commemorate the club's UEFA Champions League trophy. To commemorate the club's 100th anniversary in 1999, a variant featuring a golden "O" and a turquoise "M" was used; a similar 110th anniversary logo was used during the 2009-2010 season.
The most recent form was revealed on February 17, 2004; the "O" and "M" are rendered as a single unit in
turquoiseTurquoise is an opaque, blue-to-green mineral that is a hydrous phosphate of copper and aluminium, with the chemical formula CuAl
648·4. It is rare and valuable in finer grades and has been prized as a gem and ornamental stone for thousands of years owing to its...
without shading or borders, and the logo is capped by the golden star and sits above the club motto, also rendered in gold.
Supporters
The atmosphere in the Stade Vélodrome is created by the dominance of OM's own supporters who are housed in the
CurvaCurva is an Italian term or name for a number of stands located at sports stadia, particularly in Italy; so named, originally, due to their curved or bending shape...
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
UltrasUltras are a form of sports team supporters renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
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 LivornoAssociazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio is an Italian football club based in Livorno, Tuscany. The club was formed in 1915 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, just achieving promotion last year. The team's colors are dark red or maroon...
, AEK Athens, and Olympique Marseille. Marseille fans often lift banners and create choreography in support of the fellow teams.
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-ÉtienneAssociation Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire, are a French football team founded in 1920. They play their home games at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the city of Saint Étienne. They are also one of the most successful teams in French Football history, with honours including 10 French First...
, while the total of ten Cups is the highest. Marseille have achieved two Championship and Cup "
DoublesThe Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
" (in 1972 and 1989).
They were also the first French club to win the UEFA Champions League, in 1993.
International titles
- UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe...
- Winners (1) : 1992-93
The 1993 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match between French club Olympique de Marseille and Italy's AC Milan, played on May 26 1993 at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany....
- Runners-up (1) : 1990-91
The 1991 European Cup Final was a football match held at Stadio San Nicola, Bari, on May 29, 1991, that saw Red Star Belgrade of Yugoslavia defeat Olympique de Marseille of France in a penalty shoot out. After normal time and extra-time could not separate the two sides, the match was to be decided...
- UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is a competition for eligible European football clubs; the second most prestigious European football contest after the UEFA Champions League. It is an annual football cup competition for European club teams organised by the Union of European Football Associations...
- Runners-up (2) : 1998-99
The 1999 UEFA Cup Final a football match that took place at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on 12 May 1999 between Parma A.C. of Italy and Olympique de Marseille of France. Parma won the match 3–0.-Match details:-External links:**...
, 2003-04The 2004 UEFA Cup Final was played on May 19, 2004 at Gothenburg, between Valencia CF of Spain and Olympique de Marseille of France. Valencia won the match 2-0 thanks to goals from Vicente and Mista...
.
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that have not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
- Winners (1) : 2005
The UEFA Intertoto Cup 2005 finals were won by Lens, Marseille, and Hamburg. All three teams advanced to the UEFA Cup.-First Round:|}-Second Round:|}-Third Round:|}^played on July 24th-Semi–finals:...
National titles
- Division 1
Ligue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
/Ligue 1Ligue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. One member club, AS Monaco, is based in the independent Principality of Monaco, rather than in France proper...
- Winners (8) : 1936-37
Olympique de Marseille won Division 1 season 1936/1937 of the French Association Football League with 38 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...
, 1947-48Olympique de Marseille won Division 1 season 1947/1948 of the French Association Football League with 48 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...
, 1970-71Olympique de Marseille won Division 1 season 1970/1971 of the French Association Football League with 55 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...
, 1971-72, 1988-89, 1989-90Olympique de Marseille won Division 1 season 1989/1990 of the French Association Football League with 53 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:Victoire à 2 points....
, 1990-91Olympique de Marseille won Division 1 season 1990/1991 of the French Association Football League with 55 points.-Participating teams:- Final table :...
, 1991-92
- Runners-up (9) : 1937-38, 1938-39, 1969-70
AS Saint-Etienne won Division 1 season 1969/1970 of the French Association Football League with 56 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...
, 1974-75AS Saint-Etienne won Division 1 season 1974/1975 of the French Association Football League with 58 points.-Participating teams:-Final table:...
, 1986-87, 1993-94Paris SG won Division 1 season 1993/1994 of the French Association Football League with 59 points.-Participating teams:- Final table :Promoted from Ligue 2 , who will play in Division 1 season 1994/1995...
, 1998-99FC Girondins de Bordeaux won Division 1 season 1998/1999 of the French Association Football League with 72 points..- Participating teams :- Results :
- Final table :Promoted from Ligue 2 , who will play in Division 1 season 1999/2000...
, 2006-07, 2008-09
- Division 2
Ligue 2 is the second division of French football. It is one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 1, which is France's top division.The 20 clubs that make up Ligue 2 play each other twice during the season, creating a 38-match schedule...
- Winners (1) : 1994-95
The Division 2 season 1994/1995, organised by the LFP was won by Olympique de Marseille and saw the promotions of En Avant Guingamp and FC Gueugnon, whereas Stade Briochin, AS Beauvais, CS Sedan Ardennes and Nîmes Olympique were relegated to National....
- Runners-up (3) : 1965-66
-League Standings:-References:*...
, 1983-84-Overview:It was contested by 37 teams, and Olympique Marseille and Tours won the championship.-Group A:-Group B:-References:*...
, 1995-96The Division 2 season 1995/1996, organised by the LFP was won by SM Caen and saw the promotions of SM Caen, Olympique de Marseille and AS Nancy, whereas Stade Poitevin, USL Dunkerque, Angers SCO and Olympique Alès were relegated to National....
- Coupe de France
Coupe de France, or Coupe Charles Simon, is a competition for French football clubs, open to all professional and non-professional teams. The cup is one of many inter-French club competitions that have been organised by the French Football Federation...
- Winners (10 - record) : 1923-24
The Coupe de France Final 1924 was a football match held at Stade Olympique, Colombes on April 13, 1924, that saw Olympique de Marseille defeat FC Cette 3-2 thanks to goals by Edouard Crut and Jean Boyer.-Match Details:
-External links:**...
, 1925-26The Coupe de France Final 1926 was a football match held at Stade Olympique, Colombes on May 9, 1926, that saw Olympique de Marseille defeat AS Valentigney 4-1 thanks to goals by Jules Dewaquez , Douglas De Ruymbecke and Jean Boyer.-Match Details:
...
, 1926-27The Coupe de France Final 1927 was a football match held at Stade Olympique, Colombes on May 6, 1927, that saw Olympique de Marseille defeat US Quevilly 3-0 thanks to goals by Raymond Durand, Maurice Galley and Jules Dewaquez.-Match Details:
...
, 1934-35The Coupe de France Final 1935 was a football match held at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes on May 5, 1935, that saw Olympique de Marseille defeat Stade Rennais UC 3-0 thanks to goals by Charles Roviglione, Vilmos Kohut and an own goal by Jean Laurent....
, 1937-38The Coupe de France Final 1938 was a football match held at Parc des Princes, Paris on May 8, 1938, that saw Olympique de Marseille defeat FC Metz 2-1 thanks to goals by Vilmos Kohut and Emmanuel Aznar.-Match Details:
-External links:**...
, 1942-43The Coupe de France Final 1943 was a football match held at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes and Parc des Princes, Paris on May 9 and May 22, 1943, that saw Olympique de Marseille defeat Girondins ASP 4-0 in the replay thanks to goals by Emmanuel Aznar , Georges Dard and Félix...
, 1968-69The Coupe de Frances results of the 1968-1969 season. Olympique de Marseille won the final played on May 18, 1969, beating Girondins de Bordeaux.-Round of 16:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:First round----Second round-----Final:...
, 1971-72The Coupe de France 1971-1972 was its 55th edition. It was won by Olympique de Marseille which defeated SEC Bastia in the Final.-Round of 16:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:First round----Second round-----Final:-References:*...
, 1975-76The Coupe de France 1975-1976 was its 59th edition. It was won by Olympique de Marseille which defeated Olympique Lyonnais in the Final.-Round of 16:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-References:*...
, 1988-89The Coupe de France 1988-1989 was its 72nd edition. It was won by Olympique de Marseille.-Round of 16:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-References:*...
- Runners-up (8) : 1933-34
The Coupe de France Final 1934 was a football match held at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes on May 6, 1934, that saw FC Sète defeat Olympique de Marseille 2-1 thanks to goals by Istvan Lukacs.-Match Details:
-External links:**...
, 1939-40The 1939-1940 Coupe de France football competition concluded with a final at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on May 5, 1940 between RC Paris, the winners of the previous competition, and Olympique de Marseille, winners of the 1937-1938 competition...
, 1953-54The Coupe de France Final 1954 was a football match held at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes on May 23, 1954, that saw OGC Nice defeat Olympique de Marseille 2-1 thanks to goals by Victor Nuremberg and Luis Carniglia.-Match Details:
...
, 1985-86The Coupe de France1985-1986 was its 69th edition. It was won by Girondins de Bordeaux which defeated Olympique de Marseille in the Final.-Round of 16:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:First round----Second round-Final:-References:*...
, 1986-87The Coupe de France1986-1987 was its 70th edition. It was won by Girondins de Bordeaux which defeated Olympique de Marseille in the Final.-Round of 16:-Quarter-finals:-Semi-finals:First round----Second round-Final:-References:*...
, 1990-91-Round of 16:-Quarter-finals:-----------------Semi-finals:-----Final:-References:*...
, 2005-06The Coupe de Frances results of the 2005-2006 season. 6394 clubs participated in the cup and the final was played on April 29, 2006.The cup winner qualified for UEFA Cup.-Round of 64: * - after extra-time
...
, 2006-07The Coupe de Frances results of the 2006-2007 season. 6577 clubs participated in the cup and the final was played on May 12.The cup winner qualified for UEFA Cup qualification.-Round of 64: * - Extra time
...
.
- Challenge des champions
Le Trophée des Champions, the Champions Trophy is a cup organised by the French Football Federation, a match between the winners of the French Championship and the winners of the French Cup. In 2009, the FFF announced that the match would be played in Montreal. *Not held in 1996 because AJ Auxerre...
- Winners (1) : 1971
- Runners-up (2) : 1969, 1972
- Coupe Charles Drago
The Coupe Charles Drago was an elimination cup competition organised by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, between clubs that are knocked out before the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France. The tournament was founded in 1953 and was discontinued after the 1965 tournament.-Finals:Key-Results by...
- Championnat de France Amateurs
The French football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in France. Since its inauguration in 1932, the title has been contested through the professional Ligue 1 championship...
- Championnat de France USFSA
The French football champions are the winners of the highest league of football in France. Since its inauguration in 1932, the title has been contested through the professional Ligue 1 championship...
Regional titles
- South-East DH Championship
- Winners (4) : 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931
- Runners-up (4) : 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925
- Coastline USFSA Championship
- Winners (6) : 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1919
- Runners-up (6) : 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914
Reserve titles
- Championnat de France Amateurs
The Championnat de France amateur is a French football competition; the equivalent of the fourth division, below the Championnat National.- How it works :The "Championnat de France amateur" consists of 72 clubs spread into 4 parallel groups of 18...
- South-East DH Championship
- Winners (2) : 1958, 1966
- Runners-up (1) : 1962
- Coastline USFSA Championship 3
- Coastline USFSA Championship 4
Youth titles
- Coupe Gambardella
The Gambardella cup is a French football tournament held between the under-18s of the French football clubs, organised by the French Football Federation ....
- French Under 16 championship
- Winners (3) : 1979, 2008, 2009
Current squad
As of 7 August 2009.
Out on loan
Ballon d'Or
The following players have won the Ballon d'Or whilst playing for Olympique de Marseille:
Jean-Pierre PapinJean-Pierre Papin is a French professional football player who was European Footballer of the Year in 1991.Papin achieved his greatest success while playing for Olympique Marseille between 1986 and 1992...
– 1991
George WeahGeorge Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah is a Liberian politician and former football forward. He spent 14 years of his professional football career playing for clubs in France, Italy, and England, winning titles in two of the three countries...
, Ballon d'or 1995, also played for Marseille at the end of his career in 2000/2001.
European Golden Shoe
The following players have won the European Golden Shoe whilst playing for Olympique de Marseille:
Josip SkoblarJosip Skoblar is a former Yugoslavian football player and manager. He was primarily a forward, and also capable of playing on both wings.-Club:...
(44 goals) – 1971
Other players
- Rudi Völler
Rudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team...
- Karl-Heinz Förster
- Jairzinho
- Carlos Mozer
José Carlos Nepomuceno Mozer, usually known as Carlos Mozer or simply Mozer is a former football central defender and current coach in Morocco of Afro-Brazilian descent. Mozer played for SL Benfica, among other clubs. While defending for Flamengo, he won the Copa Libertadores de América and the...
- Enzo Francescoli
Enzo Francescoli Uriarte is a former Uruguayan football player of Italian and Spanish origin, who retired in 1997. He played 72 times for the Uruguay national team between 1982 and 1997, making him the most capped outfield player in Uruguayan international football...
- Fabrizio Ravanelli
Fabrizio Ravanelli is a former Italian football player.Ravanelli was born in Perugia. He has played with a dozen European teams, among them Perugia, Juventus, Lazio, Marseille, Middlesbrough, Derby County and Dundee F.C., as well as getting 22 caps with the Italian national team...
- Fabien Barthez
Fabien Alain Barthez is a former French football goalkeeper who won honours with Manchester United and the French national team, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 World Cup. He shares the record for the most World Cup finals clean sheets with...
- Joseph-Antoine Bell
Joseph-Antoine Bell is a former Cameroonian international footballer, one of the best African goalkeepers of all time.- Career :...
- Marcel Desailly
Marcel Desailly is a former French footballer and star of the France national football team squad, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000...
- Didier Deschamps
Didier Claude Deschamps ) , is a former French football player who captained France to victories in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.-Club career:...
- Klaus Allofs
Klaus Allofs is a former German footballer, who played as a striker.A prolific goalscorer for club and country, his younger brother, Thomas, was also a professional footballer – and a striker.-Club career:...
- Alen Boksic
Alen Bokšić is a former football attacker from Croatia. He was a renowned forward known for his technique.Bokšić was born in Makarska and started his career in the club Zmaj from Makarska. As a young player he moved to Hajduk Split and was introduced into the first team . With Hajduk, he won the...
- Igor Ivanovitch Dobrovolski
- Chris Waddle
Christopher Roland Waddle is a former English professional footballer. He currently co-commentates for ESPN's English Premier League football coverage.-Early career:...
- Trevor Steven
Trevor McGregor Steven was a highly-regarded England footballer who shot to fame with the successful Everton side of the 1980s....
- Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian footballer who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League and is the captain and all-time leading scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team...
- Bixente Lizarazu
Bixente Lizarazu is a former football left defender for Bayern Munich and three other professional teams, as well as the French national team...
- Franck Leboeuf
- Laurent Blanc
Laurent Robert Blanc is a French football manager and former defender, who scored the first golden goal in World Cup history. He was known as a surprisingly high-scoring defender, although in his early career he often operated as a midfielder...
- Christophe Dugarry
Christophe Jérôme Dugarry is a former French footballer. His clubs include Bordeaux, Milan, Barcelona, Marseille, Birmingham City and Qatar SC. He was also a member of the France side that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000....
- Robert Pirès
Robert Emmanuel Pirès is a French footballer who currently plays as a winger for Villarreal CF of the Spanish La Liga. He normally plays on the left wing but can play all across the midfield or in a position to support the striker...
- Sonny Anderson
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- Paolo Futre
- Gil Rui Barros
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- Abedi Pelé
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- Manuel Amoros
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- Marius Trésor
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- Paulo César
Paulo César Lima , commonly known as Caju, is a former football player from Brazil. He played as a forward for many teams in Brazil and also played one year for Olympique de Marseille, a Ligue 1 team in France....
- Alain Giresse
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- Jean Tigana
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- Tony Cascarino
Anthony Guy Cascarino is a former association football player. He made his name as a striker for various British and French football clubs and for the Republic of Ireland national football team.Since retirement, he has presented on TalkSPORT radio and written for both The Times and Ireland's Hot...
- Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French former footballer of the late 1980s and 1990s, turned actor. He ended his professional footballing career at Manchester United where he won four Premier League titles in five years, including two League and FA Cup Doubles.Cantona is often regarded as having...
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- Basile Boli
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- Franck Sauzée
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- Dragan Stojković
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- Jocelyn Angloma
Jocelyn Angloma is a French-Guadeloupean football defender currently playing for a Guadeloupean club, L'Etoile de Morne-à-l'Eau.He is fluent in French, Creole patois, English, Italian and Spanish....
- Yordan Letchkov
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- Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélélé Sinda is a French international football player who currently plays defensive midfield for Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1 and also serves as their captain...
- Mathieu Flamini
Mathieu Flamini is a professional footballer and French national who plays as a midfielder for the French national team and for the Serie A club Milan.-Marseille:...
- William Gallas
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- Samir Nasri
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- Franck Ribéry
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- Mido
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Reserve Squad
External links
OM.net Official club website
Marseille at the
French LeagueThe French League was a collaborationist French movement founded by Pierre Costantini in September 1940...
official website
Olympique de Marseille at the
UEFAThe Union of European Football Associations is the administrative and controlling body for European football. It is almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA ....
official website