Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg emerges as Marseille’s on-field leader | OneFootball

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has become Marseille’s organising force in 2025, the steadying presence in a team that has swung between chaos and control. Roberto De Zerbi has regularly given him the armband in Leonardo Balerdi’s absence.

According to GetFootballNewsFrance.com, former OM midfielder Benoît Cheyrou has compared Højbjerg to Thiago Motta, praising his on‑pitch coaching qualities.

The Dane’s influence starts with sheer volume. He has 1167 touches, the most in the squad, and leads OM for successful passes with 953 at a 91.8% completion rate over the last year, ranking in the 97th percentile among midfielders across Europe’s top competitions.

Before the Christmas break, he set up Mason Greenwood’s first‑time finish in the win over Monaco after crisp build‑up play. His in‑possession range has felt underappreciated across his year and a half in Ligue 1.

Højbjerg has also fronted up off the pitch. After the dressing‑room brawl at Roahzon Park, which preceded Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe leaving at the end of last summer’s window, he told the press he believes in commitment and in choosing the right moments to speak.

His leadership feels inherited rather than assumed, built on positioning, availability and clear instruction. With Balerdi’s captaincy questioned after two games on the bench and mild criticism from De Zerbi, Højbjerg could be ready to take the mantle in 2026. In a club where leadership is often loud and fleeting, his influence has proved measured and durable.

Source: GetFootballNewsFrance.com