[FM 22] Olympique de Marseille: "El Pelado's" Revolution !

[nico_france]

Welcome to Marseille !!

 

 

 

Latest amazing tifo against PSG this season

 

History and glory days...

Olympique de Marseille was founded by René Dufaure de Montmirail, a French sports official, in 1892 as an omnisport club. Known as Sporting Club, US Phocéenne and Football Club de Marseille in the first five years after their foundation, the club adopted the name Olympique de Marseille in 1899 in honour of the anniversary of Marseille's founding by Greeks from Phocaea some 25 centuries earlier, with the name Olympique, coming from ancient Olympic Games.

The first period of Olympique de Marseille's domination of the French League started in the early 1970s under Marcel Leclerc's presidency (1965–1972). His ambition allowed Marseille to return to the First division in 1965–66. They went on to win the Coupe de France in 1969 as well as the First division in 1971 with a record of 44 goals by Josip Skoblar, helped by Roger Magnusson. The arrival of Georges Carnus and Bernard Bosquier from Saint-Étienne helped them to win the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in 1972. Marseille played in the European Cup in 1971–72 and 1972–73, but were knocked-out by Ajax of Johan Cruyff and Juventus, respectively. However, success was not to last. Marcel Leclerc was forced to leave the club on 19 July 1972. The President was a stubborn man, and he threatened the whole league by threatening to withdraw his professional team from Ligue 1 because the federation refused to accept three foreign players in one team (Leclerc wanted to acquire the Hungarian star Zoltán Varga but he had already the maximum number of two foreigners in his team). But Marseille decided, instead of following Leclerc against the league, to fire him.[4] Then followed an era of crisis, with Marseille only winning a Coupe de France in 1976 and being relegated to the second division, where they played with a bunch of young local players: the Minots who allowed the team to return to First division in 1984. Éric Di Meco was one of them.

On 12 April 1986, Bernard Tapie became president, thanks to Marseille mayor Gaston Defferre, and promptly built the greatest team ever seen in France. His first signings were Karl-Heinz Forster and Alain Giresse, who were bought after the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Tapie signed a large number of highly regarded players over the next few years in his pursuit of the European Cup, such as Jean-Pierre Papin, Chris Waddle, Klaus Allofs, Enzo Francescoli, Abedi Pelé, Didier Deschamps, Basile Boli, Marcel Desailly, Rudi Völler and Eric Cantona as well as appointing high-profile coaches like Franz Beckenbauer, Gérard Gili and Raymond Goethals. Between 1989 and 1992, Olympique de Marseille won four league titles in a row and the French Cup. The highlight of the club's history is winning the new format Champions League in 1993. Basile Boli scored the only goal against Italy's Milan in the final held in Munich's Olympic Stadium. That triumph was the first time ever for a French club and it made Didier Deschamps and Fabien Barthez the youngest captain and goalkeeper, respectively, to capture the title.

This triumph, however, was followed by a decade of decline. In 1994, due to financial irregularities and a match fixing scandal involving then president Bernard Tapie, they suffered enforced relegation to the second division, where Marseille stayed two years before returning to the First division. Moreover, they lost their 1992–93 Division 1 title and the right to play in the UEFA Champions League 1993-94, the 1993 European Super Cup and the 1993 Intercontinental Cup.

Marseille returned to the top flight in 1996 with backing from Adidas's owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus. He chose Rolland Courbis as coach, signed Fabrizio Ravanelli, Laurent Blanc, and Andreas Köpke, and Marseille finished 11th for his return. For the 1998–99 season, the team celebrated their centenary and built a team of stars: Robert Pirès, Florian Maurice, and Christophe Dugarry, culminating in a second-place finish in the French championship, behind Bordeaux and an appearance in the UEFA Cup Final in 1999, losing to Parma. Courbis left the team in November 1999 after a poor start to the season.

The closest Marseille got to another trophy was when they reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2004, impressively beating Dnipro, Internazionale, Liverpool, and Newcastle United along the way. But they were beaten in the final by newly crowned Spanish champions Valencia and once again fans were forced to continue waiting for the next trophy to come along. In 2005, Marseille succeeded in winning the Intertoto Cup, beating the likes of Lazio and Deportivo de La Coruña in doing so, and earning another shot at the UEFA Cup.

The club struggled in the 2011–12 season, going to the bottom of the Ligue 1 table after six matches. Nevertheless, Marseille rebounded, winning 3–0 against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, as well as a 3–0 success over rivals PSG in November of that year. Marseille ended 2011 with a good sequence, also qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the second season running.

In February 2012, Marseille embarked on 13 games without victory, but rallied to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since winning the competition in 1993. Despite an indifferent club form, OM lost to eventual finalists Bayern Munich, and slumped to an overall tenth-place finish in Ligue 1. However, the club retained the Coupe de la Ligue for the third year running, beating Lyon 1–0 in the Final.

In the summer of 2012, Deschamps resigned, and later taking on the France job. Elie Baup took over, leading the club to a surprising second-place finish in the 2012–13 season despite selling multiple key players, including Loïc Rémy, César Azpilicueta and Stéphane Mbia. Marseille returned to the Champions League, spending close to €40 million on the likes of Dimitri Payet, Florian Thauvin and Giannelli Imbula. The club were top of the table at the end of August 2013, but OM proceeded to lose all six games in Europe, suffering the ignominy of becoming the first French team, and the biggest European team to date, to have picked up zero points in a Champions League group stage.

Baup was sacked on 7 December 2013, following the 1–0 defeat to Nantes at Stade Velodrome. He was replaced on an interim basis by Jose Anigo. In Anigo's brief tenure, OM went out of the two cups, and struggled, leading to continued protests and jeers by fans. The club finished sixth in the 2014 season, missing out on an important European competition place for the first time in ten years. Anigo left the club soon after, taking on an ambassadorial/scouting role in North Africa, his first post outside of the city for more than four decades.

 

Modern days...

Almost every year now, every season is a revolution

New coach and new president are now in charge from the end of the previous season

Your new president, Pablo Longoria, is a former scout so he brings you some nice options this year working in total partnership with the new coach he has chosen, Jorge Sampaoli, in order to replace AVB

The owner will still back you if you're doing well on the transfer market, but you will have to stick to the club vision in order to be fully operative

 

"El Pelado" and Marseille's new President, Pablo Longoria

 

 

Stadium

If you take in charge Marseille you will discover the wonderful Stade Velodrome, fully renovated in 2014, you now have a breath taking place of 67.354 fans which are going to help you to win !

It's obviously the biggest stadium available for a French Ligue 1 team so far, but you will have to be good enough to fill all the empty seats that the stadium used to have in the last years...and Marseille fans are really tough to convince so be smart !

Your facilities are also excellent, and will need few improvements

New attendance record this year against Lyon with 65369 fans

 

 

OM WITH SAMPAOLI

 

Andre Villas-Boas brought back Champions League football last year, but has a really disappointing season

 

As a result, Marseille's owner has decided to completely change his management, former President had been fired, and now, you have in charge a true football lover, Pablo Longoria, former chief scout in Spain and Italy

 

He convinced "El Pelado" Sampaoli to join Marseille last season, and the results were satisfaying, as the team reached Europa League football for this season

 

The current team has been built by these 2 men, and you'll see, there are some surprises if you want to stick to regular formations and tactics

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marseille celebrating his 120th birthday against Lyon 10 November 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Board expectations and club vision

 

 

 

The board wants you to achieve a top 4 finish, as usual, PSG will be the favorite for the league tittle, especially with Messi and so on, but you'll have others teams to compete with, such as Monaco, Lyon, Nice

This should be a really interesting as you have now good competitors in Ligue 1 and others teams that can easily compete with you on the transfer market as well

If you decide to start with the transfer window open

You will get 15M€ available, and no wages left at all

Once again, Marseille is not balanced team, and as usual, you won't have plenty of fullbacks, but you'll see why below

 

Rivals

In the south of France you'll have derbies against AS Monaco and OGCN, but the main thing is Paris Saint Germain !! That's the game you MUST not lose ! You can also add Olympique Lyonnais where it's always particulary tensed

It will be once again a real struggle to defeat PSG during the first season, and the team (IRL) was really closed to a victory last month, but now that you're in charge, would you beat PSG this year ?

 

Kits

Why Marseille ?

This year you'll have a lot of loans to deal with, and you have to manage your budget in order to make it

Your squad is younger now and you have interesting players to develop

You will have to make choices for 2 ageing players in Marseille, Mandanda and Payet

Would you succeed with Sampaoli's unusual tactic ?

Would you realize Lille's miracle last year and bring back the Ligue 1 to Marseille in May ?

 

 

ALLEZ L'OM

[nico_france]

Squad analysis

 

Goalkeepers

 

 

 PAU LOPEZ (on loan with buyout clause)

More than back up obviously, Pau joined Marseille from AS Roma in order to challenge Mandanda seriously

And this is absolutely what he can

The spaniard is 26 years old and can be interesting, but don't forget, you have an automatic buyout clause once 20 matchs are triggered, 12M€

Definitely to keep in mind

 

MANDANDA

Renewed his contract until 2024

Already 36 y/o but he's still really capable for the spot

You have 2 goods GKS for your first season in charge

Recommandations: You might be able to find better options at a lower price, Bernardoni (French) in Angers is an interesting player to scout

 

Defenders

 

Centre Backs

 

LUAN PERES

Sampaoli's choice, he knew the player from his past experience in Brazil in decide to offer to this really elegant left footed CB another experience in Europe

Could be interesting as a wide CB, as the player is really capable with its passing skills

Can also cover the LB position

 

SALIBA (on loan, no buyout)

The French hot prospect has joined from Arsenal this season

He' the most gifted CB in the team even if he's still really young

He has everything

Unfortunately you can't buy him, but you will play him a lot

 

BALERDI

On loan from Dortmund last season , the deal has now become permanent

The young argentinian still has weaknesses, but can improve

Interesting in a 3 CB tactic most of all

 

DUJE CALETA CAR

Marseille's board had tried his best to sell him this summer, but "DCC" had rejected to move to PL teams

As a result he was not playing at all, but now on the situation has chnaged and Sampaoli completely trust the lad

He's a really good option at the back, can plat in back 4 or 3 without any problems

His passing skills are also higly appreciated

 

ALVARO

The spaniard is an oldfashioned CB, which means not a great passing abilty, but strong markmanship

Already 31 y/o, will be useful this season if you plan to play with 3 CB

 

Fullbacks

 

Right side

LIROLA

On loan last season from Fiorentina, the spaniard spent a solid half season with Marseille and the deal is now permanent

Can cover all the right flank

Your only RB this year

 

Left side

AMAVI

Interesting last season with AVB and Sampaoli

He renewed his contract until 2025

Your only natural attacking FB

Reccomandations: The lack of fullbacks might be a concern, but to replicate Sampaoli's tactic FB are not mandatories

 

 

Midfielders

 

Defensive

KAMARA

Your academy gem is running out of contract in 2022

And it seems really compliacted to find another agreement with him

So you will have to decide what you want to do with him early in the save

He's also a really good CB

 

GUEYE

Still useful for the spot

Has room to improve

 

Central

GUENDOUZI (on loan)

Just joined from Arsenal, with an incredbly cheap 11M€ buyout clause, manage your finances in order to trigger it at all cost

This is a great coup for Marseille and especially Pablo Longoria who brought the now new French international to the Velodrome

You will keep it for years

 

GERSON

Requested by Sampaoli

The brazilian international is the most expensive signing this summer

You will have to play him as he's really creative in your midfield

 

RONGIER

Reliable B2B midfielder, will run for 90 mins on the pitch

Useful once agaiin this season

 

 

Attacking midfielders

 

 

Right side

UNDER (on loan)

The turkish winger has joined from AS Roma where Mourinho did not want him

He's here to replace Thauvin, who has left the club this summer

His buyout clause (8M€) will be triggered after 1 game, a real deal as the player is really good

Your only natural option

 

Left side

KONRAD DE LA FUENTE

Another great find from Longoria

Konrad was playing in the B team in Barcelona, and Marseille has offered him a great challenge

Really paceful and skilfful, the full American international is a great addition to the squad

Can also play on the right wing

 

LUIS HENRIQUE

Joined Marseille last summer from Botafogo and can play almost everywhere upfront

The young brazilian has a lot to improve in order to be a 1st team regular, good player in any case

You need to develop him, Non EU player btw
 

 

Central

PAYET

Your architecht

Can be incredible on set pieces, his vision and passing skills will offer you great assists

Much more interesting as a 10 than on the wings according me

Already 34 y/o, you will have to think about his replacement really soon

 

HARIT (on loan)

Will provide depth in this area, and can cover almost every position

No buyout clause

 

 

Strikers

 

MILIK (on loan)

The polish joined Marseille last winter, what a great signing here !

You have a tiny 8M€ buout clause that will be triggered just after 1 game

Clinical striker here, will perform really well in Ligue

Your starter

 

DIENG

The young senagalese has joined Marseille last summer

He's now becoming a nice solution upfront if you want to add pace most of all

Definitely to develop

 

 

Advices: You have 3 players loaned out (Strootman, Benedetto, Radonjic), i hope for you that won't come back

 

Backroom Staff

As usual some changes must be done as you don't have enough quality and quantity

Edited October 25, 2022 by nico_france

[nico_france]

TACTICS

 

This is a season where you can experienced some unusual formations if you stick to the original philosphy of Sampaoli this season

 

His favorite set up will have 3 CB's able to pass really well and an intense pressing

He also wants to make Payet shine, and as a result he offered him the #10 spot where he can create and score for fun

 

 

This is the most accurate starting XI eleven imo if you want to play like Sampaoli according me, i tried vary options and it's always complicated to cover your flanks otherwise

It's difficult to balance in FM, especially for the wings, if you don't want to be too vulnerable here

 

Otherwise if you want play it safer, you can go for a classical 4-3-3 , 4-2-3-1 or a solid 3-5-2

Just bear in mind that you are short in the FB area, and that Payet is your best player

 

 

Edited November 8, 2021 by nico_france

[nico_france]

reserved winter update