OM: initial leads in the search for Benatia’s successor

In order to compensate for the confirmed departure of director of football Medhi Benatia, Olympique de Marseille are scouring the market to find a worthy successor. Initial leads have emerged regarding the profile sought by the Marseille club.

“Medhi was ready to leave earlier; I called him, asked him to come in so we could speak face-to-face and reconsider his decision to stay until the end of the season, which he agreed to. But he told me: ‘Boss, I’m leaving at the end of the season.’ That’s the agreement between us and it’s his request.”

On the sidelines of the presentation of Olympique de Marseille’s future president Stéphane Richard on Friday, owner Frank McCourt confirmed the departure of director of football Medhi Benatia at the end of the 2025–2026 season.

The profile sought to replace the Moroccan

Faced with this very clear situation regarding the Moroccan’s future, OM has indeed begun the search to find him a worthy successor and thus support Richard on the sporting front. According to information from the regional daily La Provence, McCourt has commissioned a firm, Excel Sports Management, to find the perfect candidate for the role.

“As with all decisions that have significant implications for the club, the president, the owner and the supervisory board will be involved,” said the American’s entourage. The criteria sought? “A builder, humble and clear-eyed about the situation at OM and in French football,” it is reported. Having worked at Lens, Nice and AS Roma, Florent Ghisolfi met OM’s requirements, but he turned down an initial approach from the club to focus on the challenge offered by Sunderland.

Lorenzi, Fournier or Bodmer?

Unsurprisingly, the Marseille management is exploring multiple avenues to find the ideal candidate. With this in mind, the names of Grégory Lorenzi, who is leaving Brest and being courted by Nice, Julien Fournier, a free agent, and Mathieu Bodmer, under contract with Le Havre, have also been circulating… OM will have to make the right choice for its future sporting director in order to launch a new era.