Olympique de Marseille

History of Olympique de Marseille: From 1899 to Modern Football

1899–1939: The foundation and early success

Olympique de Marseille was officially founded on 31 August 1899 by René Dufaure de Montmirail. The organisation developed from earlier sporting activities in the city, including the Football Club de Marseille, established in 1897. Initially, the club’s sporting activities extended beyond football, reflecting the wider athletic culture of the period. Its footballing journey began in earnest in January 1900, when OM played a friendly against Union Sportive Phocéenne and lost 4–0. It was hardly the dream start, but even legendary football institutions need somewhere to begin.

During the early twentieth century, Marseille established itself as a leading team in regional competitions. The club played at the Stade de l’Huveaune from 1902 until 1937 and gradually built a reputation beyond southern France. In 1919, OM reached the final of the USFSA championship but lost 4–1 to Le Havre. The defeat demonstrated that the club still had work to do before becoming a dominant national force.

The 1920s brought significant progress. Marseille won its first Coupe de France in 1924, defeating FC Cette 3–2 after extra time. This achievement made OM the first club from outside the Paris region to win the competition. Further Coupe de France victories followed in 1926 and 1927, against AS Valentigney and US Quevilly respectively. These successes helped establish the club’s reputation as one of the leading names in French football.

French football became professional in 1932, and Marseille played its first professional league match on 11 September that year, defeating Lille 2–1. The club won the Coupe de France again in 1935 and claimed its first professional French championship in the 1936–37 season. In June 1937, OM moved to the Stade Vélodrome, a stadium that would become central to its identity. Another French Cup triumph followed in 1938, strengthening Marseille’s position among the country’s elite clubs.

1939–1986: Challenges, rebuilding and renewed ambition

The Second World War disrupted French football, but Marseille continued competing during the difficult wartime years. The club won the Coupe de France in 1943 and returned to the top of the French league by claiming the national championship in 1948. However, the following decade proved less successful. In 1959, Marseille suffered its first relegation from the top division, beginning a difficult period marked by inconsistent performances and financial challenges.

The club returned to the top flight in the early 1960s but continued to experience fluctuating fortunes. A major change arrived in 1965, when businessman Marcel Leclerc became president. His investment helped Marseille rebuild its squad and challenge for major honours. OM won the Coupe de France in 1969 and subsequently achieved a notable domestic double in 1972, winning both the French championship and the national cup. The league title was also secured in 1971, marking the beginning of a more successful period.

Despite these achievements, financial problems and changes in leadership eventually undermined the club’s progress. Marseille experienced another relegation in 1980 and spent several seasons outside the top division. The situation highlighted how quickly even a historically important club can struggle when sporting ambitions exceed its financial resources. For supporters, these years tested their loyalty, but they also helped reinforce the strong emotional connection between the club and the city.

1986–1993: Bernard Tapie and the European triumph

A new era began in 1986 when businessman Bernard Tapie took control of Olympique de Marseille. He invested heavily in the team and recruited leading players to restore the club’s domestic and European ambitions. Among the important figures of this period were Jean-Pierre Papin, Chris Waddle, Abedi Pelé and Didier Deschamps. Papin became particularly influential in attack, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1991 after establishing himself as one of Europe’s outstanding forwards.

Marseille won four consecutive French league championships from 1989 to 1992 and reached the European Cup final in 1991, losing to Red Star Belgrade on penalties after a goalless match. Two years later, OM returned to the final of Europe’s premier club competition. On 26 May 1993, Marseille defeated AC Milan 1–0 at the Olympiastadion in Munich. Defender Basile Boli scored the winning goal, while captain Didier Deschamps helped lead the team to victory.

The triumph made Olympique de Marseille the first French club to win the European Cup, now known as the UEFA Champions League. It remains the defining achievement in the club’s history. However, the celebrations were soon overshadowed by a match-fixing scandal involving a domestic league fixture against Valenciennes. Marseille’s 1992–93 French league title was subsequently withdrawn, and the club was relegated in 1994. Its European Cup victory remained intact, but the controversy became an enduring part of its story.

1996–2010: Rebuilding and a return to the summit

Marseille spent the late 1990s rebuilding its sporting and financial position. In 1996, businessman Robert Louis-Dreyfus became the club’s principal investor and supported efforts to restore its competitiveness. OM reached the UEFA Cup final in 1999, losing 3–0 to Parma, and returned to the final in 2004, when Valencia won 2–0. These defeats were disappointing, but the European campaigns demonstrated that Marseille was again capable of competing against major continental opponents.

The club gradually assembled stronger squads during the 2000s, with players such as Didier Drogba making a significant impact during the 2003–04 season. Marseille continued to attract large crowds and remained one of the most prominent clubs in French football, even as domestic honours proved difficult to secure. The long wait for another league championship finally ended in the 2009–10 season under manager Didier Deschamps, the former captain who had helped win the European Cup in 1993.

Marseille finished the 2009–10 Ligue 1 campaign as champions and also won the Coupe de la Ligue. Further Coupe de la Ligue victories followed in 2011 and 2012, giving supporters additional silverware. The 2010 championship was particularly significant because it confirmed that OM could recover from years of disappointment and compete successfully at the highest domestic level.

2011 onwards: Modern Marseille and European ambitions

In the years that followed, Marseille experienced further changes in management, ownership and squad composition. The club reached the final of the UEFA Europa League in 2018 under manager Rudi Garcia, defeating RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg along the way before losing 3–0 to Atlético Madrid in the final in Lyon. Although the result was disappointing, the run demonstrated the continued importance of European competition to Marseille’s ambitions.

In 2016, American businessman Frank McCourt acquired the club, beginning another phase of investment and restructuring. Marseille continued competing in Ligue 1 and European tournaments, while its supporters maintained their reputation for extraordinary commitment. The club also remained a regular subject of debate because of its high expectations, changes in leadership and determination to challenge France’s strongest teams.

Olympique de Marseille’s history is therefore a story of triumph, setbacks, reinvention and enduring loyalty. From its foundation in 1899 to its historic Champions League victory in 1993 and its domestic championship in 2010, OM has experienced almost every emotion football can offer. Its trophy cabinet is important, but its cultural significance is just as remarkable. For supporters in Marseille and fans around the world, the club represents a tradition of ambition and passion that continues to shape French football.