Marseillaise businessman and friend of Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille Owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, Xavier Giocanti, “has been tipped to succeed” OM President Vincent Labrune in the coming days or weeks, according to Dufyet & Grégoire of L’ÉQUIPE. Labrune has “hinted at having desires to leave, but those have always been balanced by new projects with the club.” A source close to the matter said, “He (Labrune) has spoken numerous times about stepping down” (
L’ÉQUIPE, 4/19). In response to the L’Équipe article, Louis-Dreyfus released a statement on the OM website saying, "I categorically deny the information published today in the newspaper L’Equipe on the replacement of the current OM President. I am very surprised and disappointed that the press attributes baseless announcements to me like the nomination of Mr. Giocanti as the future president of the club" (
OM). LE FIGARO reported Giocanti also denied the report and said that it was “pure school rumors that stir the pot stemming from my modest credibility and local notoriety” (
LE FIGARO, 4/19).
COACH DRAMA: RMC SPORT reported OM Manager Michel announced to his players Tuesday morning that “he is leaving his post,” before he left the training facility. The Spaniard is “paying for the horrible results of his team,” only 15th in Ligue 1. Michel took over in Marseille for Marcelo Bielsa, “who was fired the night of the first day of the season,” on Aug. 8 (
RMC SPORT, 4/19). The club released a statement "telling a different story" that read, "Given the behavior of Manager Michel, notably in the last three weeks, Olympique de Marseille has suspended with immediate effect and summoned him to a pre-redundancy interview. Assistant coach Franck Passi will manage the team until the end of the season and will be aided by Basile Boli, who was named sporting director" (
OM).
