Olympique de Marseille and Roberto De Zerbi have officially parted ways by mutual agreement with immediate effect, as confirmed by the club and multiple reliable sources on February 11, 2026.
The decision follows intense discussions over the past 48 hours involving De Zerbi, club president Pablo Longoria, sporting director Mehdi Benatia, the owner, and other stakeholders.
While the initial announcement emphasized no major conflicts between De Zerbi, the management, or the players—and framed the split as a shared belief that it was the best path forward for the club—deeper reporting reveals underlying pressures that contributed to the outcome.
De Zerbi, who took charge in the summer of 2024 after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion, enjoyed a strong debut season by guiding Marseille to a second-place finish in Ligue 1. However, the current campaign has been far more challenging.
Recent heavy defeats proved decisive: a humiliating 5-0 loss to arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain in Le Classique on Sunday at the Parc des Princes, which widened the gap to PSG at the top of the table (Marseille now sit fourth, 12 points behind the leaders), and an earlier 3-0 defeat away to Club Brugge that resulted in elimination from the Champions League group stage.
Sources indicate growing tensions within the squad, with reports of De Zerbi being “devastated” by the perceived lack of attitude and desire from some players to recover from setbacks.
Interviews conducted with players on Tuesday reportedly highlighted a fractured relationship between the coach and parts of the team, making his position increasingly untenable despite the public tone of amicability.
The club described the move as a “difficult collective decision” taken after careful reflection to address the sporting challenges ahead and give the team fresh momentum for the remainder of the season.
Marseille’s statement stressed that the parting was reached through direct talks and mutual consent, with De Zerbi himself believing it served the club’s best interests. No compensation details have been disclosed, though his contract ran until 2027.
Speculation about De Zerbi’s future has already intensified, with links to Premier League clubs such as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur resurfacing due to his reputation for attacking, possession-based football.
Meanwhile, Marseille are moving quickly to appoint a successor, with early names mentioned including Habib Beye and even Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle appearing on shortlists, though no appointment has been confirmed yet.
This departure marks another turbulent chapter at the Orange Vélodrome, where high expectations and passionate support often lead to swift changes on the bench. For now, the focus shifts to stabilizing the squad and salvaging what remains of their Ligue 1 title challenge and domestic cup aspirations.