Marcelino set for Vélodrome return after Marseille draw Villarreal in Europa League | OneFootball

Just months after leaving Olympique de Marseille in acrimonious circumstances, Marcelino will return to the Vélodrome after Villarreal drew Les Phocéens in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 draw.

Marcelino managed Marseille for just seven official games before departing in spectacular circumstances in September 2023. The Spaniard left after a now-infamous meeting between fans and executives of the club, during which the latter claimed to have been threatened by the former. Marcelino, who wasn’t present at the meeting, left following the “slander and threats” from the fans.

He has since criticised the club, stating that OM are “regressing” and that “it is absolutely impossible to create a project at the club”. After leaving the club, he quickly returned to management, taking the reigns at Villarreal, currently 13th in La Liga. Marseille will now face the Spanish side in the Europa League Round of 16. The first leg of the tie will take place at the Vélodrome on 7th September, with the second leg in Villarreal one week later.

Europa League Round of 16 – full draw

GFFN | Luke Entwistle