Deschamps to replace Gerets at Marseille

Ligue 1 leaders Olympique de Marseille announced today that Didier Deschamps will take over as coach in June on a two-year contract.

Free agent
The 40-year-old will replace Erik Gerets, who ended speculation about his future last week when confirming his intention to leave in the summer having not been offered a new contract to stay at the Vélodrome. It did not take OM long to name a successor, with the Mediterranean club appointing their former captain this morning. Deschamps has not worked in coaching since standing down as Juventus boss following their promotion to Serie A in 2006/07, his one season managing in Turin.

Honours
A UEFA Champions League winner with both Marseille and Juventus – supplementing two French and three Italian titles – Deschamps captained France to FIFA World Cup success in 1998 and subsequent glory at UEFA EURO 2000™. He hung up his boots shortly after that latter triumph, having become the first Frenchman to reach a century of international caps. Deschamps coached AS Monaco FC from 2001 to 2005, lifting the French League Cup and guiding the southern team to the UEFA Champions League final in 2003/04, where they were beaten by FC Porto.