Here we are after a year of Igor Tudor – back essentially where we began. The Croate spearheaded a fiery and passionate single season of intense high-pressing and transition-heavy football before proclaiming “a season here is worth two or three seasons in another club” and resigning. Whilst the summer saw a raft of changes and a healthy dosage of OM-standard turmoil, an exciting new era beckons for Les Olympiens.
A long and protracted search for a new man to lead the helm at the Vélodrame set afoot following Tudor’s departure. It was one that saw the club enter talks with Lille manager Paulo Fonseca as well as River Plate’s Marcelo Gallardo; with even wild suggestions that former PSG manager Christophe Galtier was a potential candidate. Finally it was Marcelino García Toral, known simply as Marcelino, who picked up the Marseille mantle for the 2023-2024 season.
One to Watch – Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
The former Barcelona striker joins Marseille from Chelsea, and Ligue 1 could be the perfect breeding ground for the Gabonese international to re-find his feet. With the departure of Alexis Sánchez, the need for a proven goal-scorer and a dynamic attacking presence became paramount.
Key Signing – Iliman Ndiaye
The reaction of Marseille’s fans when Ndiaye arrived at the club tells you everything you need to know about this signing. Moving from a newly promoted Premier League side in Sheffield United, Ndiaye is a pacey attacking presence who has a proven goal-scoring record and fits perfectly into Marcelino’s plans. In fact, even president Pablo Longoria admitted that “since the arrival of Marcelino, his name was firmly on the table.” It also helps that he has been a fan of OM since a very young age…
Squad strengths
Marcelino’s recruitment strategy has yielded a squad with a revitalized set of strengths. The injection of pace and technical finesse into the wide areas stands out as a key positive. Ismaïla Sarr’s arrival from Watford infuses the team with a winger capable of both creating chances and exploiting spaces with his speed. Geoffrey Kondigbia was brought in to reinforce a new-look midfield, whilst he is joined by former teammate Renan Lodi who comes in to replace Nuno Tavares. Marcelino has mostly favoured a classic 4-4-2 formation in the past, with a double pivot in midfield. This means that the initial press from Marseille is less intense, but will favour a brand of quick attacking football that Marcelino is known for. Fast and technical players are needed in the wide areas of the pitch, hence the recruitment of Sarr and Ndiaye – with two advanced forwards of differing profiles.
Squad Weaknesses
While the transfer window has brought in new talent, it has also seen the departure of key players. The absence of Alexis Sánchez and club stalwart Dimitri Payet creates a void in both attacking creativity and leadership on the pitch. Marcelino’s tactical shift from Tudor’s high-pressing approach to a more adaptable and counter-pressing style. The midfield transition could be particularly intricate, as the players adjust to the new rhythm and positional demands.
Verdict
Marcelino’s appointment at Olympique de Marseille marks the dawn of a new era filled with transformation and challenges. The shift from Igor Tudor’s high-intensity pressing to Marcelino’s adaptable approach demands patience and precision in execution. While significant departures have left gaps in both leadership and creative playmaking, the astute signings of key figures like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Iliman Ndiaye provide hope for a revitalised attack. The litmus test comes early for Marcelino at Marseille, with even the month of August being make or break for the Vélodrome faithful. The Phocaeans will have to face Reims in their opening Ligue 1 game, as they did last season, but their fixture list favours them until an early Classique clash against PSG in September. The pressure is on once again for OM, but with some big-name editions this summer there is a lot to be hopeful for under the new boss.
GFFN | George Boxall
