OM urged to reinvent model after sixth-place finish

Olympique de Marseille have been told to rebuild their sporting model as they prepare for a difficult 2026-27 season. The club will begin the campaign without Champions League football, limited resources and no new arrival during the transfer window, with Bruno Genesio in charge.

Marseille finished sixth in Ligue 1 in 2025-26, leaving them outside the Champions League places and without the revenue that comes with Europe’s leading competition. Walid Acherchour said the club needs to return to the podium and qualify for the Champions League to restore its financial health, while warning that Marseille cannot remain outside the top three indefinitely.

Speaking on After Foot, Daniel Riolo argued that the club must stop relying on its past reputation and accept its current standing. He said Marseille had repeatedly built an image larger than its actual achievements and that the team now needed to be reconstructed on more ordinary, sustainable foundations.

Riolo also linked the club’s previous crises to failures in leadership and conduct, including presidents losing touch with supporters, coaches lacking credibility and players failing to show sufficient commitment. In his view, a renewed Marseille must begin with a team that competes fully and reflects the standards expected by its supporters.