OM officially announces the departure of its former president Pablo Longoria

Between Pablo Longoria and Olympique de Marseille, the story is officially over. Frank McCourt, the American owner of OM, and the Spanish leader, who was replaced as president of the club at the end of February, have finally “reached an agreement on the conditions of his departure”, announced the Marseille team this Monday in a press release.

“OM would like to salute the commitment, passion and work accomplished by Pablo Longoria over the last six years in the service of the club,” added the press release without specifying the outlines of the arrangement. For his part, the Asturian expressed “his deep gratitude” to “the players” and “the supporters” who accompanied him during “this adventure”.

Improved sporting results but no title

This announcement comes the day after a home defeat against Lille (1-2) which reignited the anger of supporters of Olympique de Marseille, 3rd in the Ligue 1 standings. Seven days before the end of the championship, nothing is decided to know who from Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Monaco or Rennes will go to the Champions League next season.

As a reminder, the former recruiter arrived in Canebière in July 2020, first occupying the role of deputy general manager before replacing Jacques-Henri Eyraud as president less than a year after his arrival, in February 2021, in a context of sporting crisis and strong tensions between leaders and supporters, marked by the punch operation carried out by the ultras at the Commanderie.

Longoria’s mandate at the head of OM was marked by instability denounced by certain supporters, surprised by the almost annual renewal of the Marseille squad, but also by improving sporting results. If the Olympians have not won a title under his leadership, they will have notably returned to the final phase of the Champions League twice (2022-2023 and 2025-2026).

Many crises experienced

The youngest president of OM in a century – he was appointed at 34 – Longoria also has three podiums in Ligue 1 over the four full seasons he has been in charge. Since the Bernard Tapie era, only Vincent Labrune had lasted as long as him in this often ejectable president’s chair.

In this exposed position, Longoria had survived numerous periods of crises, notably in 2023 after a tense meeting with supporters, which pushed coach Marcelino and several managers to leave the club.

But he did not resist the latest reshuffle led by owner Frank McCourt, who sacrificed him to leave the field open in the sports sector to Medhi Benatia, whom the Spaniard himself had recruited in 2023 and promoted in 2025.

During his five years at the head of OM, the Spaniard appointed six different coaches (Jorge Sampaoli, Igor Tudor, Marcelino, Gennaro Gattuso, Jean-Louis Gasset and Roberto De Zerbi), not counting the temporary workers, further proof of the incessant turnover practiced by the now ex-Marseille president.