Following a difficult period, Olympique de Marseille has confirmed the hiring of veteran defender Habib Beye as head coach.
Eric Chelle, the manager of the Super Eagles, was a surprising candidate for the position, but the decision puts an end to uncertainty over his future.
After Roberto De Zerbi left Marseille after a humiliating 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain and a disappointing Champions League group stage elimination, Habib Beye was brought in.
The team is keen to get things under control before the season drags on further. They are now in fourth place in Ligue 1, 12 points behind leaders Lens.
Beye, 48, is familiar with the Stade Vélodrome’s hallways. During his playing career, he played for Marseille for four years before joining Newcastle United in 2007. After a stint at Aston Villa, he ultimately concluded his career in the lower leagues of England.
Only last week did his recent management tenure at Stade Rennais come to an end, as the Breton team dropped to sixth place in the standings following a four-match losing streak. However, Marseille’s management thinks his ties to the team might be crucial.
Friday’s matchup against Brest, Beyoncé’s first assignment, may provide an early indication of whether nostalgia and familiarity may inspire a comeback.
For Chelle, the development is a lost chance. The Franco-Malian strategist has expressed sincere interest in the position, even reaching out to club president Pablo Longoria directly to discuss his plans for the nine-time French champions.
According to reports, Longoria was considering offering Chelle a four-month contract with a performance option that would result in a one-year extension if he won the Coupe de France and finished third in the league.
According to French writer Fabrice Romain, Chelle, who is under contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) until 2027, formally applied because he was keen to return to club football.
“Marseille president Pablo Longoria is strongly interested in having Eric Chelle as new head coach,” wrote sports journalist MikeThePundit, igniting the discussion on 𝕏.
“It is based on a four-month contract with a performance-based clause for a one-year extension if Chelle wins the Coupe de France and finishes third in the league.”
After negotiations between the club and other candidates failed to come to a consensus, Marseille ultimately decided on Beye. In addition, names like Christophe Galtier, Pierre Aristouy, and Sergio Conceição had come up, and Pancho Abardonado, the interim manager, was still a backup.
There doesn’t seem to be much desire to lose Chelle back in Nigeria. Ibrahim Gusau, the president of the NFF, rejected the idea of leaving early.
“Any interest anyone may have in Eric will have to wait until his contract expires because we still have a one-year contract with him,” Gusau stated.
“His success with the Super Eagles isn’t the only reason for interest in him. Do they have the resources he needs to work with, even if they give him a higher salary? We are aware that he likes working with Nigeria, and I am confident that he thinks he can work with us to realize his African goals.
Since taking over in January 2025, Chelle has managed 18 official games with 12 victories and 6 draws; however, two of those draws resulted in losses in penalty shootouts.
He led Nigeria to third place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and has publicly expressed his desire to establish a coaching reputation that would eventually lead to new developments in European football.
