Marseille Power Shift: Benatia Remains, Longoria’s Role Reduced

Olympique de Marseille is experiencing a dramatic shift in leadership, with sporting director Medhi Benatia set to remain with the club despite recently announcing his resignation. This retention of Benatia, coupled with expanded responsibilities, signals a reduction in the power of club president Pablo Longoria, who is expected to depart the club soon.

Benatia’s U-Turn and Expanded Role

The unexpected reversal came after Benatia initially tendered his resignation on February 9th, coinciding with the departure of head coach Roberto De Zerbi. However, American owner Frank McCourt intervened, convincing Benatia to stay on until the finish of the season to “oversee all sporting activities.”

Associated Press“Benatia had agreed to come back until the end of the season to ‘oversee all sporting activities.'”

This expanded role will inevitably limit the influence of Pablo Longoria, who will now focus on representing Marseille within French and European bodies.

Implications for the LFP

Longoria’s potential departure raises concerns about Marseille’s representation within the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP). According to reports, his exit could lead to a loss of power on the LFP side, as he currently holds a position on the board of directors. A key requirement for this position is at least one year of experience as a club president, a qualification no one currently possesses at OM.

GFFN“To be eligible for this position, you need at least one year of experience as club president and no one is therefore eligible for OM.”

Frank McCourt reportedly places significant importance on maintaining a presence within the LFP, making the timing of Longoria’s departure a crucial point of negotiation.

Recent Turmoil at Marseille

This leadership reshuffle follows a period of significant turmoil for Marseille. The club was eliminated from the Champions League after a 3-0 loss to Club Brugge and suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. These setbacks led to fan protests, with supporters urging both McCourt and Longoria to leave.

Marseille currently sits in fourth place, 12 points behind league leader Lens. Their remaining realistic chance of silverware lies in the French Cup, where they will host Toulouse in the quarterfinals next month.

Looking Ahead

The changes at Marseille represent a clear attempt by owner Frank McCourt to stabilize the club and regain control of its sporting direction. The coming weeks will be critical as the club navigates Longoria’s departure and seeks to improve its performance on the pitch.