Habib Beye contacted, Sergio Conceiçao still keen as Marseille weigh De Zerbi successor | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Marseille moved quickly after confirming Roberto De Zerbi’s exit, sounding out Habib Beye, dismissed by Rennes, without making an offer. Sergio Conceiçao, in charge at Al-Ittihad, has restated his interest, though there has been no concrete contact.

OM must choose between Beye and Conceiçao, and could turn internally for Strasbourg on Saturday at 17:00, with Pancho Abardonado and coach Romain Ferrier considered.

De Zerbi’s final appearance came late on Sunday after the 0-5 defeat at PSG, when he voiced uncertainty over which OM would appear. Within 48 hours, the club decided the team would play without him this weekend.

Beye, 48, was beaten 0-3 by OM in the Coupe de France on 3 February, yet is seen as eager to rebound. He captained Marseille from 2003 to 2007 and knows the environment well.

Director of football Medhi Benatia has been shaken by De Zerbi’s departure, having linked his own future to the coach, and has stepped back from front-line decisions.

Conceiçao, 51, previously took too long to decide before OM chose De Zerbi, but keeps strong ties with Benatia. A €4.5m clause, and his temperament, could hinder talks. Éric Chelle, Nigeria’s coach, has also been proposed.

After parting with De Zerbi, a move welcomed by supporters, Marseille must choose between a short-term fix, as with Jean-Louis Gasset in 2024, or a longer project. The new coach will be judged quickly, with Lyon in Ligue 1 and Toulouse in the Coupe de France quarter-finals visiting in early March.

Source: L'Équipe