Few places have seen frustration levels among fans reach such historic highs as in Marseille. The last title was won back in 2010 when Didier Deschamps was at the helm. Key players included Mamadou Niang and Brandão, with play directed by Lucho González, Mathieu Valbuena, Benoît Cheyrou, and Édouard Cissé, while Gabriel Heinze, Souleymane Diawara, Stéphane Mbia, Taye Taiwo, and Steve Mandanda held the defense.That title ended an 18-year championship drought, which had stretched back to the Bernard Tapie era… And no one could have predicted they would wait another 14 years!Soon after, Qatari oil money flowed into France, and PSG became the sovereign ruler of French football. This was the worst possible scenario for Marseille fans, who continue to claim that their club is still the most popular in the country. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, considering how many children started supporting their bitter rival from Paris during that time, unwilling to wear the label of “loser” associated with the fanbase at the Velodrome.##NAJAVA_MECA_8342680##PSG dominated, Marseille stagnated, and often they were completely out of the conversation regarding trophies. They only managed to win two French League Cups, but even that was 12 years ago. Financial and subsequently sporting inferiority compared to their biggest rival fueled anger and dissatisfaction in one of Europe’s largest ports. Owners, directors, coaches, and players came and went… Fans often had hooligan outbursts. But an almost blinding love for the club persisted and grew. The more PSG dominated, the greater the fanatical loyalty grew in Marseille.This summer, Marseille set a record for season ticket sales – 49,000!The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi as head coach ignited the hopes of fans. One of Europe’s most talented coaches, after years working at clubs without pressure (Benevento, Sassuolo, Brighton), accepted one of the hottest seats in European football, where knowledge of the game and good scouting aren’t sufficient qualifications for success. He stepped into the “mad house” called the Velodrome.The club’s management supported him with moves on the transfer market, enabling a complete reconstruction of the team. They spent €85 million (and who knows how much more on permanent signings after loan spells) on several experienced reinforcements like Ajax goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, and Everton forward Neal Maupay. However, most of the money went on younger talents such as Mason Greenwood, Elye Wahi, Ismaël Koné, Valentin Carboni, Lilian Brassier, Jonathan Rowe, and Derek Cornelius.##EDITORS_CHOICE##De Zerbi’s Marseille started off with a five-goal show away at Brest!For a fanbase as frenetic as Marseille’s, every spark feels like an explosion, let alone a five-goal victory. They were fired up but, true to their style, cooled down quickly when modest Reims took a point in the first match at the Velodrome. It all felt like Groundhog Day again… But then came victories against Toulouse and regional rivals Nice, and the euphoria began simmering once more.And last night, it boiled over.Marseille secured the signing of one of the best free agents on the football market. Adrien Rabiot accepted a two-year contract. Not only did they sign a good player, but they brought in a Paris Saint-Germain product. That counts double. This might be the first transfer to the Velodrome that truly hurt PSG fans since the Qataris established their dominance at the Parc des Princes.L’ambiance est totalement folle pour l’arrivée d’Adrien Rabiot à Marseille ! 👀#EDG pic.twitter.com/6gFBkX6jfT— la chaine L’Équipe (@lachainelequipe) September 16, 2024 Rabiot was born in the suburbs of Paris and grew up at the Parc des Princes, where he debuted for the first team at 17. It was a time when PSG was buying big names and had no homegrown stars to boast about. However, Carlo Ancelotti decided to promote Rabiot to the first team. It turned out that he was a player with massive potential, someone who would give a local touch to Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain. He was projected to be the future captain. He spent seven years at the club and left as a free agent without much fanfare.He spent five seasons at Juventus and left them in the same way. This summer, he weighed his options, rejected a massive offer from Saudi Arabia, and eventually made the move that will see him forever blacklisted in Paris. But he was greeted in Marseille as a hero.More than 30 players in history have worn the jerseys of both of France’s most popular clubs, but few have attracted as much attention as Rabiot. The most controversial moves from Parc des Princes to the Velodrome came at the beginning of this century. PSG captain Frédéric Déhu shocked everyone by leaving Paris for their bitter rivals as a free agent. That same summer, Fabrice Fiorèse, a fan favorite in Paris, made a similar move in the final hours of the transfer window. PSG’s coach at the time, Vahid Halilhodžić, said he felt like vomiting over such players and moves. Fiorèse wasn’t even accepted by Marseille fans and left after a year, with his career quickly falling apart.”I am staying in Paris 300 percent, this is my club” and “I have always supported Marseille” – those were two statements Fiorèse gave within just a few weeks in the summer of 2003.Paris fans were later hurt by the betrayal of Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze, whom they adored for his warrior-like spirit. Although, he didn’t do it directly but went via Manchester United and Real Madrid. When he arrived at Marseille, he became the highest-paid player in Ligue 1. The next major betrayal came when Albanian midfielder Lorik Cana scored in a derby at the Velodrome and said that moving to Marseille was the best decision of his life.Fabrice Fiorese (L) vies with Paris Saint-Germain’s Lorik Cana (R) in 2004There were many more big names who played for both French giants: Édouard Cissé, Hatem Ben Arfa, Lassana Diarra, Bruno N’Gotty, Stéphane Dalmat, Peter Luccin, Florian Maurice, Jérôme Leroy, Claude Makélélé, Zoumana Camara, Péguy Luyindula… Even George Weah.Rabiot is next on the list and the first in a long time to switch from PSG to Marseille. The first significant one since Cissé and Heinze in 2009. The latter two played key roles in winning the last title, and at the Velodrome, they hope Rabiot could bring the same success.”Adrien loved Marseille as a child and supported them against Paris Saint-Germain,” said one of Marseille’s directors to L’Équipe.Few will believe this, but he didn’t miss the chance to pour more fuel on the fire of euphoria in the south of France. The derby is on October 27th. At the Velodrome.
