Roberto De Zerbi Leaves Position as Marseille Manager ‘By Mutual Agreement’

Roberto De Zerbi has left his role as Marseille manager “by mutual agreement” after less than two years in charge, the club have announced.

The 46-year-old former Brighton & Hove Albion head coach was appointed in June 2024, but pressure had mounted after the French side’s Champions League elimination last month — Marseille finished 25th, missing out on the play-off round on goal difference on the final day of the league phase.

They were then thrashed 5-0 by fierce rivals Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.

At 2.35am local time on Wednesday, Marseille announced De Zerbi’s exit.

“Following discussions between all stakeholders in the club’s management — the owner, president, director of football, and coach — it was decided to make a change at the helm of the first team,” the club said in a statement.

“This was a difficult collective decision, taken after careful consideration in the best interests of the club, in order to respond to the sporting challenges of the end of the season.

“Marseille would like to thank Roberto De Zerbi for his dedication, commitment, professionalism, and seriousness, which were particularly evident in the team’s second-place finish in the 2024-25 season.”

Marseille’s runners-up spot in Ligue 1 last season meant that while they were the nearest challengers to champions PSG, they ultimately finished 19 points behind Luis Enrique’s side.

Following spells with Benevento, Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, De Zerbi was appointed by Brighton in September 2022, following Graham Potter’s exit for Chelsea.

The Italian coach led Brighton to a sixth-place finish in his first season, earning the south-coast club a debut Europa League campaign.

Brighton finished 11th in the Premier League the following season, and were eliminated from the Europa League by Roma in the round-of-16, with De Zerbi leaving the club that summer.

Marseille are fourth in Ligue 1, 12 points behind league leaders PSG.