Marseille are facing a significant crisis early in the season, with indications that their newly appointed coach, Marcelino, may leave the club.
The situation has escalated to the point where even the club's president is contemplating stepping down following a heated altercation with supporters.
Marcelino, the 58-year-old Spanish coach, is expected to be absent from the team's upcoming Europa League clash against Ajax in Amsterdam as his future with the club hangs in the balance. He took over as coach in June, succeeding Igor Tudor, who guided the team to a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
Despite being undefeated in the first five games of the domestic season, Marseille's supporters were irate over their lacklustre performance in a recent 0-0 draw with Toulouse. The club's early exit from the Champions League, losing on penalties to Panathinaikos, further fueled discontent, relegating them to the Europa League.
Reports suggest that Marcelino might be temporarily replaced by Pancho Abardonado, a former Marseille player currently on the coaching staff, along with David Friio, the sporting director.
Meanwhile, Marseille's president, Pablo Longoria, and three close associates have decided to step back from their roles and are contemplating their positions. Longoria, who shares a strong rapport with Marcelino, is expected to miss the Ajax game, as will other key figures in the club's management, including director of football Javier Ribalta.
These developments stem from a meeting between club management and supporters groups at the club's training centre, where supporters expressed their desire for the current management team to resign. The club responded by stating that they could not accept personal threats or engage in relationships based on intimidation.
Pablo Longoria was appointed by the club's American owner, Frank McCourt, in January 2021 following an incident in which angry supporters stormed the club's training ground, targeting then-president Jacques-Henri Eyraud.
In the midst of this turmoil, Marseille face a crucial fixture against Ajax before an intense clash with arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
