Grégory Lorenzi appointed OM sporting director | OneFootball

OM have appointed Grégory Lorenzi as sporting director, ending his 10-year spell in the same role at Brest and replacing Medhi Benatia.

Aged 42, Lorenzi’s first task will be selecting a new head coach. According to Le Progres, Habib Beye, who replaced Roberto De Zerbi during the season and remains under contract, is unlikely to be retained.

His brief is to shape and lead Marseille’s sporting policy, with a particular focus on player development and strict resource management amid the broader broadcast-rights crisis.

Alongside new president Stéphane Richard, Lorenzi is tasked with fronting a new cycle as OM enter the Europa League. Their fifth-place finish in Ligue 1 meant they missed the Champions League.

He moves from Brest, a family club with limited means, to an institution defined by politics and intense scrutiny from media and supporters. The step up is stark for a discreet operator rarely seen in print.

At Brest he guided the sporting project, transforming a side long used to the second division into a respected outfit. The former club full-back, who played there from 2008-2013 and 2015-2016, helped deliver third place in 2024 and a Champions League berth.

Source: Le Progres