Unlike the Provençal squad that left to bask in the sun or enjoy the Roland-Garros tournament, the Marseille board is not idle, a few days after the epilogue of this 2022-2023 season, pitifully punctuated by a setback on the Ajaccio court (0-1). Today, the priority is clear in Marseille: find the next coach to replace Igor Tudor, who left to join his relatives in Split.
On Monday, President Pablo Longoria held a press briefing to take stock and discuss the future. The Spanish leader acknowledged "discussions" with several technicians capable of extending the work of Igor Tudor, especially in terms of offensive, physical and vertical play.
🎥 The 8️⃣2️⃣ goals scored in all competitions by our Olympians! 👉
https://t.co/idEIlzhDV7 And you, what is your favorite? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/mcKXaXOCY1
— Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) June 6, 2023
Among the latter is, according to our information, the former coach of River Plate Marcelo Gallardo, with whom the contacts are real. After eight years on the bench of the "Millonarios" and numerous trophies obtained (Copa Libertaires in 2015 and 2018, Copa Sudamericana in 2014, etc.), "El Muñeco" ("the Doll") decided to terminate his contract last October: he is therefore free on the market.
Another option seems to lead to Vincenzo Italiano but this one seems more complex: he is the current coach of Fiorentina - with whom he will play the final of the Europa League Conference this Wednesday evening (21h) against West Ham - and would also be scrutinized by Napoli, without a coach since the departure of Luciano Spalletti. Finally, Raffaele Palladino (Monza) is another possibility.
According to people close to the case, other names have recently been mentioned but are not real tracks for the blue and white staff: we find here the manager of Rayo Vallecano Andoni Iraola, the former coach of Valencia CF Marcelino -also very appreciated by Pablo Longoria-, or the current technician of Torino Ivan Juric. The hypothesis of seeing the emergence of a technician whose name has not yet filtered exists.
As specified by President Longoria, the outcome is hoped "as soon as possible" so that the summer transfer window of OM (June 10 - September 1) is quickly launched: the month of August promises to be dantesque with the third preliminary round of the Champions League (then the possible play-offs) and the resumption of Ligue 1.