Official | Igor Tudor confirms Marseille departure | OneFootball

Marseille manager Igor Tudor has confirmed during his pre-game press conference on Friday he will leave Les Phocéens after only one season in the dugout. Foot Mercato broke the news this morning that the former Hellas Verona manager informed his players of his desire to move on. As revealed by sources contacted by Get French Football News earlier this week, Tudor was yet to respond to an improved contract offer from the club’s board. The Croatian manager was tied with Marseille until 2024 but he won’t see it through to the end, arguing of his “tiredness” at managing Marseille. The former center-back spoke of “private and professional reasons” to justify his departure.

“We accept and respect Igor Tudor’s choice not to continue this journey with us next season“, club president Pablo Longoria said in today’s press conference. “It has been an honour. I spent a great year. I gave it all. I grew up. I’m proud to leave the club in a better state that I found it. I wish the club and his employees the best.” Tudor, whose name have come up as a possible replacement for out-of-favour Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, revealed he had no agreement to join another club from next season ownards. The Croatian manager is reportedly eyeing a return to coaching a Serie A side.

It has been a year of ups and downs for Marseille. Courtesy of their Tudor-induced energetic playing style, they started the season quite well. They finished bottom of their Champions League group, behind Tottenham Hotspur, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sporting CP, by the finest of margins. Despite beating Rennes and PSG, Les Phocéens exited the Coupe de France in the quarter-finals stage with a shock home defeat against Ligue 2 minnows Annecy. Marseille eventually fell short of both PSG and Racing Club de Lens in the second half of the season and will finish third. Tudor’s final game as Marseille coach will occur on Saturday night against Ligue 2-bound Ajaccio.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval