Olympique de Marseille

Olympique de Marseille, often called Marseille or OM, is a famous football (soccer) club from the city of Marseille in France. They play in Ligue 1, the top league of French football, and are known for having many fans and big crowds at their home games in the Stade Vélodrome. The club has a big rivalry with another French team, Paris Saint-Germain, and their matches are called Le Classique.

Marseille was started in 1899 and got its name from the ancient Olympic Games. The team’s best years were in the 1990s when they won many prizes, including the important UEFA Champions League in 1993. Even though they had some hard times later, they kept winning titles and are now one of the most successful clubs in France. With 29 trophies, they are behind only Paris Saint-Germain as the most decorated team in the country.

Today, Olympique de Marseille is very popular and wealthy. In 2024, the club was one of the richest in the world, earning around €287 million. The team continues to excitement fans both in France and around the world with its strong play and history.

History

See also: List of Olympique de Marseille seasons

Olympique de Marseille was started in 1892 as a big sports club by René Dufaure de Montmirail, a French sports official. First called Football Club de Marseille, it changed its name to Olympique de Marseille in 1899. The name "Olympique" came from the ancient Olympic Games to honor the Greeks from Phocaea, who founded Marseille many centuries ago.

At first, rugby was the main sport in the club. It joined a French sports group in 1898. In 1902, thanks to English and German people, football began at Olympique de Marseille. The club grew stronger than other teams in Marseille and took the lead in the city. In 1904, they won their first big local competition and joined the final rounds of the 11th French championship. Back then, people used "football" for rugby and "Association" for what we now call soccer.

In the 1920s, Olympique de Marseille became important in France, winning the Coupe de France in 1924, 1926, and 1927. They won the French championship in 1929. In the 1930s, they kept winning, including the Coupe de France again in 1935 and 1938. After World War II, they had more success, becoming champions of France in 1948.

The club faced tough times in the 1950s but managed to stay strong. In the 1960s and 1970s, under new leadership, they started winning again, including the Coupe de France in 1969 and the league in 1971. The 1980s brought more success and a big win in the Champions League in 1993, which was a huge moment for French clubs.

After that win, the club went through hard times, including financial troubles and losing titles. In the late 1990s and 2000s, they came back strong, winning the Coupe de la Ligue several times and reaching the Champions League again. Recent years have seen the club grow again under new owners, reaching the Europa League final in 2018 and qualifying for the Champions League once more.

Le Classique

Main article: Le Classique

Le Classique is a special football match between Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain. It is similar to El Clásico, a famous match between Barcelona and Real Madrid. This rivalry is not just about the game; it also shows the differences between Paris and Marseille. Paris is known for its wealth and culture, while Marseille has a more industrial and mixed history. The rivalry became big in the 1990s when the owners of both clubs promoted it for marketing reasons.

Both teams have won important European trophies. PSG has won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Champions League, and Marseille has also won the UEFA Champions League. Even with changes over the years, these two teams remain strong rivals, making Le Classique an exciting and lively match. It is also called Le Classico.

Stadium

Main article: Stade Vélodrome

From 1904 to 1937, the team played at the Stade de l'Huveaune, a stadium they owned. In 1937, they moved to the bigger Stade Vélodrome. The Vélodrome was updated for big events like the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2016, growing to hold 67,000 fans. Before each home game, fans hear the song "Jump" by Van Halen, and when the team scores, "Come with Me" by Puff Daddy plays.

Kits and crest

Olympique de Marseille's traditional colors are blue and white, taken from the city's flag. They used to wear white shirts and shorts with blue socks until 1986. Since then, they mostly wear all white, but sometimes they bring back the blue socks.

The club's badge was created by its founder, René Dufaure de Montmirail, using letters from his own seal. Over the years, the badge has changed many times. It started with a fancy "M" over an "O", then became simpler, and later got more detailed again. In 1993, a star was added to celebrate winning a big tournament. The current badge shows the "O" and "M" together in turquoise with a golden star on top.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Supporters

Marseille has special groups of fans that gather in the same stadium. These groups are in the Virage Sud and Virage Nord areas, as well as in the Ganay and Jean-Bouin stands.

The excitement in the Stade Vélodrome comes from these fan groups, especially those in the Curva ends behind the goals.

The Virage Nord is home to groups like Marseille Trop Puissant, Fanatics, and Dodger's. This part of the stadium is next to where visiting team fans sit, and it has tall fences for safety.

The Virage Sud is named after Nicolas Roze, who helped during a big health problem in Marseille long ago. Fan groups like Commando Ultra '84, the first ultra group in France, are in this area along with other supporters.

Marseille fans also have friendly ties with supporters of AEK Athens, Livorno, and FC St. Pauli. Sometimes, they show support for these teams with banners.

Players

Here is a summary of the players for Olympique de Marseille.

The club has a first-team squad that competes in Ligue 1, the top French football league. As of February 2026, the team includes players from many countries around the world.

The club also has a B team and youth sector, helping develop younger players. Some first-team players are currently away from the club on loan, playing for other teams temporarily. Each season, the club's best player is chosen as "Player of the season."

Club officials

See also: List of Olympique de Marseille managers and presidents

Current technical staff

• Last updated: 12 August 2024
• Source:

Honours

See also: Olympique de Marseille in European football

Marseille is one of France’s most successful football clubs. They have won the top French league, Ligue 1, nine times. Only two clubs have won more league titles. Marseille has also won the main French cup, the Coupe de France, ten times, which is the second most wins. They have won both the league and the cup in the same year twice, called a "Double." Marseille made history by becoming the first French club to win the UEFA Champions League in 1993.

Ballon d'Or

The following players won the Ballon d'Or while playing for Olympique de Marseille:

• [France] Jean-Pierre Papin – 1991

European Golden Shoe

The following players earned the European Golden Shoe while playing for Olympique de Marseille:

• [Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia] Josip Skoblar (44 goals) – 1971

UNFP Player of the Year

The following players won the UNFP Player of the Year award while playing for Olympique de Marseille:

• [Ivory Coast] Didier Drogba – 2004

UNFP Young Player of the Year

The following players won the UNFP Young Player of the Year award while playing for Olympique de Marseille:

• [France] Franck Ribéry – 2006
• [France] Samir Nasri – 2007
• [France] William Saliba – 2022