Regain hearts and minds.

This is the stated goal of the American owner of Olympique de Marseille, Frank McCourt, after the announcement, Friday, February 26, of profound changes for the Marseille club.

A promise of a new start embodied by the decision to dismiss President Jacques-Henri Eyraud in favor of the sports director, Pablo Longoria, and to appoint Jorge Sampaoli as new coach.

Frank McCourt announces profound changes, opening a new chapter for Olympique de Marseille.

- Olympique de Marseille (@OM_Officiel) February 26, 2021

In relative difficulty sporting and in conflict with its groups of supporters, OM has been experiencing a major crisis for several weeks.

"This is a new chapter for Olympique de Marseille, and I am personally committed to making it a real success," Franck McCourt said in a shattering statement.

"I have entrusted the presidency of the club to Pablo (Longoria). His experience as a sports director and talent scout is matched only by his love of the game. His main priority will be to put football back at the heart of the game. 'OM ", he further explained, specifying that Eyraud, whose person has crystallized the tensions from the supporters in recent weeks, would join the OM supervisory board.

>> To read: Jorge Sampaoli, a new "Loco" to train OM

Meeting with supporters

As for the file of the new coach brought to replace the Portuguese André Villas-Boas, laid off at the beginning of the month, it will be the Argentinian Jorge Sampaoli, approached for several days.

The former Argentina and Chile coach, 60, signed up until June 2023, the day after his last game at the head of Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro.

"I've been told all my life that OM is a passion. Let the (stadium) Vélodrome light up when the team goes to the stadium," said Sampaoli, quoted in the club's statement.

"Marseille is a people's club and I feel myself in this heat. We are not there to hide: we will play hard," he said.

>> To read: The fight of the supporters of the Olympique de Marseille to live their passion

Frank McCourt has, moreover, promised that he would go "this week" to the Marseille city to meet with supporters and leaders of fan groups in order to "discuss his long-term plans for the club" which he has acquired in 2016.

With AFP

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