Belgian coach Eric Gerets has been appointed coach of Marseille in place of Albert Emon.
The 53-year-old previously worked as coach with Standard Liege, PSV Eindhoven, Kaiserslautern and Galatasaray.
“The team needs a new boost. Eric Gerets is the coach who can give us it while continuing the important work of the club’s sporting management over the past three years,” Marseille president Pape Diouf told the club’s website.
“His experience in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany or Turkey, are assets that will help our club reach the objectives that it has been set.”
Gerets said: “When Marseille showed their interest I didn’t hestitate. Marseille’s reputation is enormous and there is a lot of work to do. That’s something I like.
“I like moving forward and I think that Marseille likes that too.”
“Once you’ve worked in Turkey I think that you can go to any other place in the world,” said Gerets, who left Galatasaray in May after two seasons with the club.
Marseille are currently 16th in the league after nine matches, but despite presiding over their poor start to the season Diouf hinted that Emon could remain involved in club activities.
“It was a difficult decision given the friendship that links us with Albert Emon and the work he has done. We thought about this considerably and it’s not without sadness that we took the decision,” said Diouf.
“But Albert knows the club too well not to understand our decision. I hope he continues to bring his passion and experience to the club as he has done for so many years.”
