Today’s XI at 11 is composed of ex-Marseille players who played Premier League football during their careers, following Liverpool’s demolition of L’OM in the Champions League.
Today’s XI at 11 is composed of ex-Marseille players who played Premier League football during their careers, following Liverpool’s demolition of L’OM in the Champions League.
Some French legends are part of this list that every manager would love to have under their control, but did we miss anyone out?
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1.Fabien Barthez
Fabulous Fab is France’s most legendary goalkeeper. Le Divin Chauve, or ‘the bald god’, as he is dubbed in his homeland, won the 1993 Champions League with Marseille and moved to Manchester United in 2000, were he experienced a mixed spell. The shot stopper won the Premier League title in 2001 and 2003 but his lack of consistency and some spectacular blunders made Sir Alex Ferguson replace him with Tim Howard.
2. Habib Beye
The former L’OM captain was transferred to Newcastle in the summer after disappointing form in his last season under contract at Le Velodrome. The French club did not offer him a contract extension and opted to sell the right back rather than letting him leave for free at the end of the season. The French-born Senegal international scored his first Premier League goal in the 2-1 win over Birmingham at St James’ Park and appears to have settled in Sam Allardyce’s team since his arrival.
3. William Gallas
The versatile defender captained Marseille in Ligue 1 and in both European competitions before moving to Stamford Bridge in 2001. The centre back and full back was a key player for Chelsea for five-and-a-half seasons and a dispute, supposed to be financial, with his parent club made him join arch-rivals Arsenal on the last day of the August 2006 transfer window in a controversial swap with Ashley Cole.
4. Mathieu Flamini
The French Gattuso, as he is called by his Arsenal team-mates, impressed at an early age in Provence, as he started for Marseille aged 19. The aggressive midfielder signed a first professional contract with The Gunners as he was still a trainee in France, provoking anger from the French club. The versatile player was used at left back during Arsenal’s almost successful Champions League campaign in 2005-2006, but the new France international prefers to play at his natural position in central midfield, where he has imposed himself as a key player at Emirates Stadium this term.
5. Laurent Blanc
Le President spent the last two seasons of an exceptional career at Old Trafford, after having worn the captain’s armband at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome. The central defender was famous for his cold blood inside the penalty area and his leadership skills. Blanc finished his adventure in football with a title with Manchester United in 2003 before turning to coaching at Bordeaux.
6. Marcel Desailly
The Rock won the Champions League with L’OM in 1993 before blossoming at Milan and shining for Chelsea from 1998 to 2004. He won the FA Cup, the Community Shield and the European Super Cup with The Blues, where his physical skills made him a redoubtable and strong defender alongside fellow countryman Franck Leboeuf.
7. Didier Deschamps
La Deche was L’OM’s captain during one of their most successful and notorious periods. The tackling specialist won two Ligue 1 titles and the Champions League but left Le Velodrome when the Provence side were relegated for the famous OM-VA match-fixing scandal in 1994. L’Equipe de France captain during their golden period played just one season at Chelsea where he won the 2000 FA Cup. Deschamps has turned to coaching and successfully managed Monaco and Juventus.
8. Robert Pires
The attacking midfielder failed to win any titles with Marseille as he finished second in Ligue 1 in 1999 due to a late goal from Bordeaux’s Pascal Feindouno and lost the Uefa Cup final against Valencia after Barthez was sent off. Pires then moved to Arsenal in 2000 and enjoyed six superb seasons alongside compatriots Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord. He left The Gunners having lost the 2006 Champions League final at Stade de France and joined Villarreal last season.
9. Eric Cantona
The legendary King will always been remembered as one of Old Trafford’s favourites. The France international won the domestic title with L’OM in 1989 and 1991 before crossing the channel. Canto’s Premier League adventure started with a title with Leeds United in 1992. The attacker played the five final years of his career at Manchester United, where he became a legend due to his skilful football and his strong character.
10.Mido
The Globe Trotter is only aged 24 but has already played for nine clubs, including Marseille in the 2003-2004 season, without making a deep impact at Le Velodrome. The Egypt international played two seasons for Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 12 goals, before moving to Middlesbrough in the summer, where he is currently injured after having scored during his two first games.
11.Didier Drogba
The Drog was probably too good for Marseille, as he left the club he supported as a kid after just one extraordinary season. The Ivory Coast international scored 18 goals in 35 games for L’OM in the 2003-2004 season and was transferred to Chelsea as Jose Mourinho’s first choice in attack. The African striker is currently one of the most prolific attackers in the world.
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