Marseille confirm former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi as new head coach

Roberto De Zerbi, the former Brighton manager, was officially announced as the new head coach of Ligue 1 team Marseille on Saturday.

Marseille had previously revealed that they had reached an "agreement in principle" with De Zerbi, but a recent statement on their website finalized the agreement.

The club expressed their excitement in signing the Italian coach for the upcoming three seasons. De Zerbi will be taking over from Jean-Louis Gasset at the helm of the 1993 Champions League champions.

De Zerbi expressed his eagerness to join Marseille, citing the club's rich history, passionate supporters, and the warm reception he received as key factors in his decision.

American owner Frank McCourt also welcomed De Zerbi, praising his understanding of the club's sporting project and expressing confidence in his dedication to Marseille's future success.

De Zerbi's appointment is seen as a significant achievement for Marseille, who finished eighth in the league and missed out on European competition next season.

Despite being linked with Chelsea, De Zerbi ultimately chose Marseille, following a successful stint at Brighton where he led the team to an FA Cup semi-final and secured Europa League qualification.