Marseille and Coach Gattuso part ways
Following their 1-0 defeat at Brest over the weekend, Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso is set to depart from Ligue 1 side Marseille, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. Gattuso, expressing his sentiments after Sunday's loss, remarked that Marseille, enduring a six-game winless streak, had "hit rock bottom.
In Monday's discussions, a source close to the matter revealed that the Italian coach acknowledged that he had "run out of solutions" to rejuvenate Marseille's fortunes.
The anticipated departure of Gennaro Gattuso is expected to be a mutually agreed parting of ways rather than a termination, as indicated by the same source.
The 46-year-old took charge of Marseille at the end of September, succeeding Marcelino Garcia Toral, who resigned after only seven competitive games in charge. Despite his efforts, Gattuso was unable to reverse the team's fortunes, with Marseille failing to secure a league victory in 2024 and currently holding the ninth position in the table, well below the threshold for European competition qualification next season.
Except for a narrow 1-0 triumph over fifth-tier Thionville in the French Cup, Marseille has not secured a victory since hosting Clermont on December 17. Subsequently, they were eliminated from the cup by Rennes.
Their lone positive highlight has been a 2-2 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League play-offs, with the return leg scheduled at the Velodrome on Thursday.
Although the specifics of Gattuso's departure are yet to be formalized, the club is actively searching for a successor. According to the source, following a Spaniard and an Italian, they are seeking a "man of action, adept at connecting with his players, and preferably someone with a strong affinity for French culture."
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