Habib Beye Named Marseille Head Coach To Replace De Zerbi

Marseille have named Habib Beye as head coach on an 18-month contract, moving quickly after Roberto De Zerbi left earlier in February. The appointment comes just nine days after Beye lost the Rennes job in Ligue 1.

The 48-year-old returns to a club already familiar from a playing spell, while Marseille sit fourth in Ligue 1 ahead of facing Brest on Friday. The board expect Beye to stabilise results and keep the team in the race for European qualification.

Marseille director of football Medhi Benatia outlined why the club turned to Beye at this stage. Benatia told the club website: "The choice of Habib Beye as OM's new coach is fully in line with our desire to recruit a coach with the leadership skills needed to take charge of a team that obviously needs to be re-motivated after a difficult period on the pitch."

Benatia also described the targets agreed for the coming months. "From our very first discussions, he struck me as extremely committed and totally focused on the future, with clear objectives for everyone: to quickly get back to winning ways, aim for a place on the Ligue 1 podium and try to win the Coupe de France to give the people of Marseille a trophy."

Beye’s recent work at Rennes strongly shaped Marseille’s decision. He led Rennes in 36 Ligue 1 matches after arriving in January 2025, collecting 16 wins, seven draws and 13 defeats. That spell produced an average of 1.6 points per game in the French top division.

Key numbers from Beye’s latest managerial stint and current deal are shown below.{TABLE_1}

Beye already has a strong connection with Marseille supporters from a long playing career at the club. After signing from Strasbourg in the 2003-04 season, Beye made 128 appearances, helped secure the 2005 Intertoto Cup and played in the run to the 2003-04 UEFA Cup final.

Attention now turns to Beye’s first fixtures in charge as Marseille chase their stated goals. Brest visit the Stade Vélodrome on Friday, with Marseille currently occupying fourth place in the Ligue 1 standings and seeking momentum in the league and domestic cup.