Marseille are set to part ways with their Italian coach Gennaro Gattuso after a disappointing run of results, a person familiar with the matter told AFP on Monday.
Gattuso confessed that Marseille had reached their lowest point after losing to Brest on Sunday, extending their winless streak to six games.
The person said that Gattuso acknowledged that he had run out of ideas to improve Marseille’s situation during Monday’s talks.
The person added that Gattuso’s exit would be a mutual agreement rather than a dismissal.
Gattuso, 46, took over Marseille in late September, replacing Marcelino Garcia Toral who resigned after only seven games in charge.
But he could not revive a team that has not won a league game in 2024 and is languishing in ninth place, far from securing a spot in Europe next season.
Marseille’s only victory under Gattuso was a narrow 1-0 win over minnows Thionville in the French Cup, before they were eliminated by Rennes.
Their only glimmer of hope has been a 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League play-offs, with the second leg at home on Thursday.
While Gattuso’s departure is yet to be confirmed, the club is already searching for a new coach. The person said they wanted a “decisive leader, who can motivate his players and had a preference for French culture”.
