Roberto de Zerbi agrees deal in principle to become Marseille manager after missing out on Chelsea and Man United jobs
- The former Brighton boss has completed a deal to become Marseille manager
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Roberto de Zerbi has reached an agreement in principle to become Marseille manager in his first role since leaving Brighton at the end of the season.
The Italian was linked with a takeover at both Manchester United and Liverpool before Erik ten Hag was kept in his position at Old Trafford and Arne Slot moved to Anfield.
He was also discussed as a potential successor to Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea before the Blues hired Enzo Maresca from Leicester.
De Zerbi had previously expressed a desire to return to his native Italy but is now set to move to French side Marseille after two years in charge in the Premier League.
The 45-year-old will succeed Jean-Louis Gasset, who left his position at the end of the Ligue 1 season after announcing his retirement.
Roberto de Zerbi has reached an agreement in principle to become Marseille manager
De Zerbi left Brighton after two years at the end of the Premier League season
Marseille finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season during a mixed campaign for the French side
The 70-year-old Gasset had only become manager on an interim basis in February following the dismissal of Gennaro Gattuso, but could not stop Marseille from a lowly eighth place in the league.
It was a disappointing year for the French side, who had finished third the year before and were hoping to go on and challenge for the French top-flight title.
Announcing De Zerbi’s new position, a statement from Marseille read: ‘The club is currently working with all parties involved to formalize the arrival of the Italian coach and his staff on the OM bench and to prepare for his arrival in Marseille in the coming days. ‘
De Zerbi has previously been linked with takeovers at Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea
De Zerbi will be hoping to rediscover his first season form at Brighton when he begins pre-season training with Marseille in the coming weeks.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk coach guided Brighton to sixth place in his first season after replacing Graham Potter and to the Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.
However, a difficult follow-up season saw the Seagulls finish 11th and exit the Europa League after being beaten over two legs by Roma.
It was mutually agreed that De Zerbi would leave the Amex stadium in the summer and will now work in France for the first time in his career.