At 2.35am in Marseille, the message dropped. Roberto De Zerbi and the club had parted ways by mutual agreement, ending a turbulent spell that began with promise and closed under the weight of expectation.
The timing said much about the mood around the Velodrome. A heavy 5-0 defeat to fierce rivals Paris Saint-Germain had deepened the frustration, and last month’s Champions League exit still stung. Marseille finished 25th in the league phase and missed the play off round on goal difference on the final day.
In a statement, the club confirmed the decision came after talks between the owner, president, director of football, and coach. “This was a difficult collective decision, taken after careful consideration in the best interests of the club,” it read. Marseille also thanked De Zerbi for his “dedication, commitment, professionalism, and seriousness.”
That gratitude was not hollow. Last season, he guided Marseille to a second place finish in Ligue 1, their best campaign in years, even if they ended 19 points behind champions PSG. It restored belief in a club that lives on emotion and demands ambition.
Yet Marseille is not a place that waits. The 5-0 defeat to PSG felt like more than a loss, it felt like a reminder of the gap that still exists. Supporters who once embraced De Zerbi’s bold style began to question whether his possession heavy approach could survive in a league dominated by Parisian power.
De Zerbi arrived in June 2024 with a reputation for progressive football. At Brighton, he had led the club to a sixth place Premier League finish and their first Europa League campaign. His teams pressed high, built patiently, and attacked with courage.
But football rarely grants time. Marseille sit fourth in Ligue 1, 12 points behind PSG, and the title race already feels distant. With key fixtures ahead, the hierarchy chose change over patience.
For De Zerbi, this is another chapter in a career defined by brave projects. For Marseille, it is a reset made in the quiet hours of the morning, with the roar of the Velodrome still echoing in the background.
