The structural collapse at Olympique Marseille is complete. Mehdi Benatia has officially resigned as the club’s Sporting Director with immediate effect, leaving a massive power vacuum at the Stade Vélodrome.
His departure comes just four days after head coach Roberto De Zerbi was dismissed following a humiliating 5-0 Le Classique defeat to PSG and the club’s exit from the Champions League at the hands of Club Brugge.
The “Why” Behind the Exit
Benatia, who joined in 2023 out of loyalty to his former club, cited a “toxic climate” and a breakdown in internal alignment as the primary reasons for his departure:
- The De Zerbi Domino: Benatia had tied his future to De Zerbi’s project. Once the Italian was axed, Benatia reportedly offered his resignation on February 9th, which was initially rejected by President Pablo Longoria before being “fixed” today.
- Structural Frustration: Reports suggest promised financial resources for the January window never materialized, forcing Benatia to rely on “short-term patches” like the Jhon Durán loan attempt (which failed) and complex loan deals.
- The Greenwood Factor: Internal whispers (and reports from L’Équipe) suggest a significant rift between Benatia and Mason Greenwood, with the director reportedly critical of the player’s commitment to commercial and club responsibilities.
- Relationship with Longoria: The once-strong bond with Pablo Longoria had reportedly “deteriorated” over disagreements regarding the club’s long-term sporting direction.
Marseille in Freefall
OM currently sit 4th in Ligue 1, but the atmosphere around the training ground is described as “explosive.”
- Interim Leadership: Jacques Abardonado is currently acting as interim coach (following a 2-2 draw with Strasbourg), but with Benatia gone, the search for a permanent manager like Habib Beye has become significantly more complicated.
- The Fans: The Marseillais faithful boycotted the first 15 minutes of the last match and have called for a complete overhaul of the board.
“I leave with the feeling that I gave my all professionally, but with the regret of not having managed to calm the environment around the group.” — Mehdi Benatia
