It was expected, it's official.
Argentinian technician Jorge Sampaoli takes command of OM.
He succeeds André Villas-Boas and the interim coach Nasser Larguet on the bench of the current seventh in the classification of the Ligue 1. A man of character.
“I've been told all my life that OM is a passion.
That the Orange Vélodrome lights up when the team goes to the stadium, he said, he who has just left Atlético Mineiro in Brazil.
Marseille is a people's club and I feel myself in this heat.
We are not here to hide: we will play hard.
When I received this proposal, I dreamed of being able to party in the city.
In the world, there are quiet places and intense places.
These are the ones I want and I accepted without hesitation.
This club has a soul that's why we are here.
We are ready."
Discovery.
A "Loco 2.0" in direct affiliation with Bielsa
Sampaoli claims himself as a disciple of Marcelo Bielsa, whose passage on the Cannebière had been appreciated between 2014 and 2015. “In reality, I spied Marcelo for 10 years, he confided before the 2014 World Cup. I spent at least 14 hours a day thinking about him, watching videos of his teams' matches.
I even recorded his press conferences and listened to them while going for my jogging. ”
Far more verbose and expansive than his model, the Argentine has taken the codes to shape his teams, with a clever mix of attacking football and foolproof intensity.
Add to that an occupation of the entire width of the land and we have our "Loco 2.0."
"
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Glory at the head of Chile
After a decade at the head of Peruvian and Chilean clubs, it is by succeeding ... Marcelo Bielsa that the Argentinian technician has made a name for himself on the international scene, giving Chile back to life between 2012 and 2016. With two main feats of arms: getting out of the pools of the 2014 World Cup (eliminating Spain) before losing in the round of 16 against Brazil, the host country, on penalties, and leading the “Roja »To his first international title at the 2015 Copa America, held in Chile.
A title gleaned on penalties against Argentina by Vidal, Sanchez, Bravo and others which will earn Sampaoli the title of best coach in South America that year.
Two years of chess in Europe and with his country
After the termination of his contract with Chile, who will do it again by winning the Centenary Copa America without him, Jorge Sampaoli is trying his first adventure in Europe with Sevilla FC.
As a result, a mixed experience despite good intentions in the game. His attacking football was the source of great hopes after a successful first half of the season, and sanctioned by a second place.
Then descended to third place, his Seville will finally finish fourth, still fulfilling the goal of qualifying for the Champions League, but without a trophy.
Only a year after his arrival, Sampaoli gives in to the sirens of the Argentine national team.
"I am not a mercenary, it is my country that calls me", he justifies when packing up.
At the end of the day, a sad 2018 World Cup, punctuated by elimination in the round of 16 against France (4-3).
He will then bounce back in Brazil, where he will finish second with outsider Santos and third, with Atletico Mineiro.
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"Between the coach and the character off the pitch, it's night and day"
Renowned close to his players, Jorge Sampaoli has notably forged excellent links with two French people in Andalusia.
“He was a friend, not a trainer, described Samir Nasri last May during a live
.
He said to me: "You can drink, go out, do whatever you want, I'll cover you."
He only asked us to be good on the pitch on weekends. ”
Evoking a football "based on the grinta" in
Provence
, Adil Rami, remembers him a "great enthusiast, very endearing."
But above all from a trainer who knew how to balance things: “Between the trainer and the character off the pitch, it's day and night.
As soon as there is training or a match, it is no longer the same man. "
Hyperactive and bloody
“His physique gives an impression of a 'bad boy', shaved and tattooed,” summarizes Rami.
His last outing with Atletico Mineiro abounds in this sense.
Like a rabid pit bull, the native of Casilda (40,000 inhabitants) was excluded after entering the field in Recife, where his team finally won (2-3).
A sulphurous temperament that finally sticks with the Marseille context.
“It's the kind of club that I like.
Clubs which have this support, this popular clamor and which make that if you win something, the city explodes ”, himself admitted the person concerned about the OM in
SoFoot
in 2016. Already ready to switch to drunkenness .
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