In search of a new coach for several weeks, Olympique de Marseille ended up setting its sights on Marcelino. After the departure of Igor Tudor, OM looked for a coach with an international profile and capable of continuing the good dynamics of the Marseille club, which won a second consecutive podium in Ligue 1. After the failures leading to Marcelo Gallardo (River Plate) and Paulo Fonseca (Lille), Marcelino’s profile stood out.
Free of any contract since leaving Athletic Bilbao a year ago, the Spanish technician was warmly welcomed by his new management. “The arrival of Marcelino is part of the desire to give continuity to the club’s project. Our many discussions showed a shared determination and understanding. His expertise and his personality correspond to the requirements of the high level “, in particular claimed in a press release Javier Ribalta, general manager of OM. A look back at the career and skills of the former Valencia coach.
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Due to a serious knee injury before he turned 30, Marcelino had to join the benches earlier than expected. Passed by Levante, Elche or Santander, he notably had several selections in youth teams of Spain. His coaching credentials are based on several profiles, including Sacchi and Guardiola, but the Asturias native fell in love with Rafael Benitez due to similarities with his background, as he told Onze Mondial: “When I I started coaching, I was inspired by him, because he hadn’t had a great career as a professional player, but all he got as a coach was through hard work. »
With 377 appearances in the Spanish first division, Marcelino has established himself as a La Liga veteran. He has managed seven teams at this level: Recreativo Huelva, Racing Santander, Real Zaragoza, Sevilla FC, Valencia, Villarreal and most recently Bilbao. A professional coach for 20 years now, Marcelino has had many benches and his longest spell was with Villarreal, with four seasons in charge of the Yellow Submarine.
In a championship where it is difficult to get out of the game with Real, Barça and Atletico, Marcelino has been able to hang on to the Champions League three times. He notably won the King’s Cup in 2019 with Valencia, for the club’s centenary.
In Marseille, Marcelino reunites with an old friend. It is indeed the third time that he has crossed paths with Pablo Longoria, the Marseille president. The two men had first seen each other in Gijon, when the young Longoria started in recruitment, then in Valence, where the Marseille leader had taken the lead, being a sports director. Considered a mentor by his younger brother, Marcelino was praised on several occasions by the strongman of OM. “He’s very important to me because he taught me how to analyze football and understand a lot of things. Without him, I would not have succeeded in the same career, “he explained to Canal.
While his predecessors Jorge Sampaoli and Igor Tudor favored the three-man defense, Marcelino is more of a follower of the classic 4-4-2 with a double pivot in midfield. This is his signature scheme with which he was already evolving during his first steps on a bench, near Gijon in 2004. Tactically, the Spaniard aims above all for density, with a compact block which represents a difficult knot to untie for the opponent. Its first two lines of four players leave very little room for the opponent to maneuver.
If the pressing will undoubtedly be less intense than last season, Marcelino knows how to sting when necessary, with quick attacks and play in transition, which rely on the technical and physical qualities of his attackers. Nothing revolutionary then, but a coach who masters all aspects of the game and who also prioritizes mental preparation.
For Marcelino, out of the question to leave the frame and make a few deviations. Every professional player has to follow a few rules, especially regarding… weight. Kevin Gameiro, who was his player in Valencia, summed up the intransigence of the new Marseille coach on RMC Sport as follows: “He is very strict on certain things, there are rules that do not derogate. He is very demanding on the hygiene of life, on the weight. I had a little trouble adapting when I arrived in Valencia. There is an ideal weight, fat mass. If you don’t fit that pattern, you pay big fines! “The Marseille locker room is therefore warned.
