Olympique de Marseille facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marseille

Full name	Olympique de Marseille
Nickname(s)	Les Phocéens (The Phocaeans) Les Olympiens (The Olympians) Les Minots (The Boys from Marseille)
Short name	OM, Marseille
Founded	31 August 1899; 125 years ago (1899-08-31)
Ground	Stade Vélodrome
Ground Capacity	67,394
Owners	Frank McCourt (95%) Margarita Louis-Dreyfus (5%)
President	Pablo Longoria
Manager	Roberto De Zerbi
League	Ligue 1
2021–22	Ligue 1, 2nd of 20
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Olympique de Marseille, often called Marseille or OM, is a famous French professional football club. It is based in the city of Marseille and plays in Ligue 1, which is the top football league in France.

The club was started in 1899. Since then, OM has won many titles. They have won nine league titles, ten Coupe de France titles, and three Coupe de la Ligue titles. They also hold a national record for winning the UEFA Champions League once.

In 1993, Marseille became the first and only French club to win the UEFA Champions League. They beat Milan 1–0 in the final. In 2010, Marseille won its first Ligue 1 title in 18 years.

Marseille plays its home games at the Stade Vélodrome. This stadium can hold 67,394 fans. It's in the southern part of Marseille. The stadium was updated between 2011 and 2014 for the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament. Marseille has a huge fan base and often has the highest attendance in French football.

The club has a big rivalry with Paris Saint-Germain. Their matches are known as Le Classique. In 2016, American businessman Frank McCourt bought most of the club.

History of Olympique de Marseille

Olympique de Marseille was first created as a sports club in 1892. It was founded by René Dufaure de Montmirail. The club was known by different names before becoming "Olympique de Marseille" in 1899. This name honored the city's founding by Greeks from Phocaea many centuries ago. The word "Olympique" comes from the ancient Olympic Games.

OM founder, René Dufaure de Montmirail.

At first, rugby union was the main sport for the club. The club's motto, "Droit au but" (which means "Straight to the goal"), came from rugby. Football started to become popular at Olympique de Marseille around 1902. In 1904, OM won its first local championship.

Early Successes (1920s-1950s)

During the 1920s, Olympique de Marseille became a strong team in France. They won the Coupe de France in 1924, 1926, and 1927. In 1929, they won the French championship. The 1924 Coupe de France was their first major trophy. Many famous French players, like Jules Dewaquez and Jean Boyer, played for Marseille during this time.

In 1937, Marseille won its first professional French championship. They also won the Coupe de France in 1935 and 1938. In 1938, Larbi Benbarek, a very talented player, joined the team. During World War II, in the 1942–43 season, Marseille scored many goals. They won the cup again in 1943. In 1948, Marseille became champions of France once more.

In 1952, the team almost got moved down to a lower league. But Gunnar Andersson saved them by scoring many goals. He is still the all-time top scorer for Olympique de Marseille with 194 goals. Marseille was second in the Coupe de France in 1954. They won the Coupe Charles Drago in 1957. However, the team struggled and was moved down to the second division in 1959. They stayed there until 1965.

Marcel Leclerc Era (1965–1986)

Brazilian 1970 World Cup winner Jairzinho joined OM in 1974.

In 1965, Marcel Leclerc became the president of the club. Under his leadership, Marseille returned to the First division in 1965–66. They won the Coupe de France in 1969. They also won the First division in 1971, with Josip Skoblar scoring a record 44 goals. With new players like Georges Carnus and Bernard Bosquier, they won both the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in 1972.

Marseille played in the European Cup in 1971–72 and 1972–73. However, Marcel Leclerc had to leave the club in 1972. After his departure, the club went through a tough period. They only won one more Coupe de France in 1976. Marseille was moved down to the second division again. Young local players, known as the Minots, helped the team return to the First division in 1984.

Bernard Tapie Era and Champions League Win (1986–1996)

OM won six titles with Didier Deschamps as manager between 2009 and 2012.

In 1986, Bernard Tapie became the new club president. He worked to build a very strong team. He signed many famous players like Jean-Pierre Papin, Chris Waddle, Didier Deschamps, and Rudi Völler. Between 1989 and 1992, Olympique de Marseille won four league titles in a row. They also won the French Cup.

The team reached the European Cup final in 1991 but lost. The biggest moment for the club was winning the UEFA Champions League in 1993. Basile Boli scored the only goal against Milan in the final. This was the first time a French club had won this important European trophy.

However, this success was followed by a difficult time. In 1994, due to some financial problems and issues with a match, the club was moved down to the second division. Marseille stayed there for two years before returning to the top league. They also lost their 1992–93 league title.

Return to Success (1996–2009)

Marseille returned to the top league in 1996. The club was supported by Adidas CEO Robert Louis-Dreyfus. They signed new players like Fabrizio Ravanelli and Laurent Blanc. In the 1998–99 season, the team finished second in the French championship. They also reached the UEFA Cup Final in 1999 but lost.

Didier Drogba played greatly for OM during the 2003–2004 season, scoring 32 goals and gaining attention from then Chelsea coach José Mourinho.

Marseille reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2004. They beat strong teams like Internazionale and Liverpool. But they were defeated by Valencia in the final. In 2005, Marseille won the Intertoto Cup.

In 2007, Marseille almost won the Coupe de France but lost on penalties. They did qualify for the Champions League group stage that year. In the Champions League, Marseille became the first French team to win at Anfield (Liverpool's home stadium).

Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 in 2009. This allowed them to enter the Champions League again. In 2010, Marseille won the Coupe de la Ligue. This was their first major title in 17 years. Two months later, they won their first league championship in 18 years.

Marseille also won the 2010 Trophée des Champions and the Coupe de la Ligue again in 2011. They reached the last 16 of the Champions League. They also set a Champions League record by winning an away game 7–0.

Recent Years (2012–Present)

The club had a tough start in the 2011–12 season. However, they improved and qualified for the Champions League quarter-finals in 2012. This was their first time since winning the competition in 1993. They lost to Bayern Munich but won the Coupe de la Ligue for the third year in a row.

In 2012, coach Didier Deschamps left the club. Elie Baup took over and led the team to a second-place finish in 2012–13. Marseille returned to the Champions League but lost all six of their games. Baup was replaced by José Anigo in 2013.

Dimitri Payet is a key player for OM.

In 2014, Marcelo Bielsa became the new manager. In his first season, the club was at the top of the league for seven months. However, they finished fourth. After the first game of the 2015–16 season, Bielsa surprisingly resigned. He said he didn't trust the club's management.

Míchel became the new coach in 2015. The team struggled and Míchel was fired in April. Marseille reached the Coupe de France final in 2016 but lost to Paris Saint-Germain. The club finished 13th in the league, their worst finish in 15 years.

In 2016, American businessman Frank McCourt bought the club. He appointed Jacques-Henri Eyraud as president and Rudi Garcia as manager. In 2018, Marseille reached the final of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League but lost.

Former football scout Pablo Longoria became President in February 2021.

In the 2019–20 Ligue 1 season, Andre Villas-Boas was the head coach. Marseille finished second, which qualified them for the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League. In 2021, Andre Villas-Boas resigned and was replaced by Jorge Sampaoli. Pablo Longoria became the new president.

In the 2021–22 Ligue 1 season, Marseille finished second again. This secured their place in the Champions League for the next season.

Le Classique: Marseille vs. PSG

PSG-OM in 2007.

Le Classique is the name for the big football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille. This rivalry is similar to famous rivalries in other countries, like El Clásico in Spain.

The rivalry is more than just a game. It represents the difference between the capital city, Paris, and the industrial city of Marseille. It's often called "the North versus the South."

This rivalry became very popular in the 1990s. Both clubs were very strong then. PSG won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, and Marseille won the UEFA Champions League in 1993. These two clubs were the main forces in French football for a long time. Even today, their matches have a very special and exciting atmosphere.

Stadium

Stade Vélodrome in 2015 during a match against PSG.

From 1904 to 1937, Marseille played at the Stade de l'Huveaune. This stadium was owned by the club and could hold about 15,000 people. In 1937, OM moved to the much larger Stade Vélodrome.

The Vélodrome has been updated several times. It was renovated for the 1998 World Cup. It has two large fan sections behind the goals, called Virage Nord and Virage Sud. These sections are where the club's most passionate supporters gather.

The stadium was updated again for UEFA Euro 2016. A roof was added, and its capacity increased to 67,000 seats. Before each home game, the song "Jump" by Van Halen is played. When Marseille scores a goal, "Come with Me" by Puff Daddy is played.

Kits and Crest

Marseille's traditional uniform colors were white shirts and shorts with blue socks until 1986. Since 1986, they have mostly played in all white. The blue color on their kits became lighter because of Adidas marketing. However, in 2012–2013, the club went back to wearing blue socks.

The club's first badge was designed by the founder, René Dufaure de Montmirail. It had the letters "D" and "M" linked together. The club's motto, "Droit au but" (French for "Straight to the Goal"), was also on the badge. This motto came from the club's rugby days.

Over the years, the logo changed. In 1993, a star was added to the badge. This star celebrates the club's UEFA Champions League trophy win. The most recent logo was revealed in 2004. It has the "O" and "M" letters in turquoise, with the golden star and the motto "Droit Au But" below it.

Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors

Supporters

OM fans in 2007.

The amazing atmosphere at the Stade Vélodrome is created by Marseille's passionate supporters. They sit in the "Curva" sections behind both goals.

Virage Nord De Peretti

The North Curve is home to several supporters' groups. These include Marseille Trop Puissant, Fanatics, and Dodger's. They buy tickets for their members at the start of each season. In 2002, the North Curve was named after Patrice de Peretti. He was the founder of the Marseille Trop Puissant (MTP) group.

Virage Sud Chevalier Roze

The South Curve is named after Nicolas Roze. He was a noble who helped create a hospital in Marseille during a great plague in 1720. This section is controlled by groups like Commando Ultra '84 and the South Winners. Commando Ultra '84 was the first "ultra" supporter group in France. The South Winners traditionally use orange colors.

Friendships with Other Clubs

Marseille fans have strong friendships with supporters of other clubs. These include AEK Athens (Greece), Livorno (Italy), and FC St. Pauli (Germany). Marseille fans often show support for these teams with banners and displays.

Players

First-team squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Gerónimo Rulli 3 DF Quentin Merlin 5 DF Leonardo Balerdi (captain) 6 DF Ulisses Garcia 7 MF Valentín Carboni (on loan from Inter Milan) 8 FW Neal Maupay (on loan from Everton) 9 FW Elye Wahi 10 FW Mason Greenwood 11 MF Amine Harit 12 GK Jeffrey de Lange 13 DF Derek Cornelius 14 FW Faris Moumbagna 17 FW Jonathan Rowe (on loan from Norwich City) 18 DF Bamo Meïté 19 MF Geoffrey Kondogbia 20 DF Lilian Brassier (on loan from Brest)

No. Position Player 21 MF Valentin Rongier 22 FW Enzo Sternal 23 MF Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (vice-captain; on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) 24 MF François Mughe 25 MF Adrien Rabiot 29 DF Pol Lirola 34 MF Bilal Nadir 36 GK Rubén Blanco 37 MF Emran Soglo 44 FW Luis Henrique 47 MF Gaël Lafont 48 FW Keyliane Abdallah 51 MF Ismaël Koné 62 DF Michael Amir Murillo 99 DF Chancel Mbemba

Marseille B and Youth Sector

No. Position Player 32 DF Roggerio Nyakossi 33 MF Stéphane Sparagna 38 FW Ange Lago

No. Position Player 39 MF Raimane Daou 41 FW Sofiane Sidi Ali

Players on Loan

No. Position Player GK Pau López (at Girona until 30 June 2025) GK Simon Ngapandouetnbu (at Nîmes until 30 June 2025)

No. Position Player DF Samuel Gigot (at Lazio until 30 June 2025) MF Azzedine Ounahi (at Panathinaikos until 30 June 2025)

Player of the Season Awards

Season	Player	Nationality	Position	Notes	Ref
2001–02	Runje, VedranVedran Runje	Croatia	Goalkeeper
2002–03	Van Buyten, DanielDaniel Van Buyten	Belgium	Defender	Also named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2003–04	Drogba, DidierDidier Drogba	Côte d'Ivoire	Forward	Also won the UNFP Player of the Year award and was named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2004–05	Beye, HabibHabib Beye	Senegal	Defender	Also named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2005–06	Ribéry, FranckFranck Ribéry	France	Winger	Also won UNFP Young Player of the Year and was named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2006–07	Nasri, SamirSamir Nasri	France	Midfielder	Also won UNFP Young Player of the Year and was named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2007–08	Mandanda, SteveSteve Mandanda	France	Goalkeeper	Also won UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year award and was named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2008–09	Cheyrou, BenoîtBenoît Cheyrou	France	Midfielder	Also named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2009–10	Niang, MamadouMamadou Niang	Senegal	Forward	Also named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2010–11	Ayew, AndréAndré Ayew	Ghana	Forward
2011–12	Nkoulou, NicolasNicolas Nkoulou	Cameroon	Defender	Also named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2012–13	Valbuena, MathieuMathieu Valbuena	France	Forward	Also named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2013–14	Gignac, André-PierreAndré-Pierre Gignac	France	Forward
2014–15	Payet, DimitriDimitri Payet	France	Midfielder	Also named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2015–16	Mandanda, SteveSteve Mandanda	France	Goalkeeper	Also won UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year award and was named in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2016–17	Thauvin, FlorianFlorian Thauvin	France	Winger
2017–18	Thauvin, FlorianFlorian Thauvin	France	Winger
2018–19	Sakai, HirokiHiroki Sakai	Japan	Defender
2019–20	Mandanda, SteveSteve Mandanda	France	Goalkeeper
2020–21	Kamara, BoubacarBoubacar Kamara	France	Midfielder
2021–22	Payet, DimitriDimitri Payet	France	Midfielder	Also named for the UNFP Player of the Year award and in the UNFP Team of the Season.
2022–23	Sánchez, AlexisAlexis Sánchez	Chile	Forward
2023–24	Aubameyang, Pierre-EmerickPierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Gabon	Forward	Also named for the UNFP Player of the Year award and in the UNFP Team of the Season.

Club Officials

Current Technical Staff

Roberto De Zerbi is the current manager of the club

Role	Name
Manager	Roberto De Zerbi
Assistant managers	Jacques Abardonado Andrea Maldera
First-team coaches	Marcello Quinto Enrico Venturelli Marco Marcattili
Goalkeeping coaches	Ricardo Segarra Agaray Alexandre Salvat
Video Analysts	Quentin Neboud Paul Chevaleyre Robin Garnier
Lead Sport Scientist	Francesco Aiello
Fitness coaches	Vincenzo Teresa Agostino Tibaudi
Chief Doctor	Abdou Sbihi
Doctor	Clément Amiot
Medical assistant	Mathias Giustiniani
Osteopath	Gilles Davin
Podiatrist	Jean-Luc Guer
Physiotherapists	Maxime Matton Pierre Vespignani Stéphane Ré Yannick Dyduch Youssef Rahou
Nutritionists	Muriel Espinosa Matthias Bruno

• Last updated: 12 August 2024
• Source:

Honours and Trophies

Marseille has won many important football competitions. They have won the French national championship nine times. Only Paris Saint-Germain (twelve titles) and Saint-Étienne (ten titles) have won more. Marseille also has the second-best record in the Coupe de France, with ten titles.

Marseille players celebrate winning the Coupe de la Ligue in 2010.

Marseille lifting the Trophée des Champions in 2011.

Marseille has won both the championship and the cup in the same season twice (in 1972 and 1989). They are the only French club to win the UEFA Champions League, which they did in 1993.

Individual Player Awards

• Ballon d'Or: This award is for the best football player in the world.
  • Jean-Pierre Papin – 1991 (while playing for Marseille)

• European Golden Shoe: This award is for the top goal scorer in European leagues.
  • Josip Skoblar (44 goals) – 1971 (while playing for Marseille)

• UNFP Player of the Year: This award is for the best player in the French league.
  • Didier Drogba – 2004 (while playing for Marseille)

• UNFP Young Player of the Year: This award is for the best young player in the French league.
  • Franck Ribéry – 2006
  • Samir Nasri – 2007
  • William Saliba – 2022

Images for kids

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  AEK fans (Original 21) lifting an OM fans (Commando Ultra '84) banner.

See also

In Spanish: Olympique de Marsella para niños