The 57-year-old has replaced Didier Deschamps at the Marseille hot-seat after agreeing to a two-year deal with the last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists
Les Phoceens have wasted little time in their quest of a new coach and have appointed Elie Baup as the successor to Didier Deschamps, who left the Rhone club few days ago.
Elie Baup, who helped FC Girondins de Bordeaux win the Ligue 1 title in 1999, has taken charge of the first-team of the nine-time French champions.
Marseille decided to part ways with Deschamps following a woeful campaign that saw Les Phoceens finish at a poor tenth place in Ligue 1 last season.
A statement on the club’s official website states that,
“Elie Baup is named coach of OM for two seasons. Baup will attend Crans-Montana, where the players have been training since Wednesday. He will be presented to the press early Thursday afternoon”.
Marseille’s new coach has an impressive profile and it isn’t surprising a bit that OM have decided to hand him a deal that will tie Baup to the club until 2014.
A double fracture of the neck put an end to Baup’s playing career following a car accident he suffered at the age of 20. After retiring from his playing career in 1974, the Frenchman moved into coaching and quickly made a name for
himself in the coaching world.
Leading Bordeaux to the Ligue 1 title in 1999 earned him massive recognition as a top-class coach in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899. The Frenchman later coached Toulouse and guided the club to the qualifying stages of the Champions League, following a third
place finish in Ligue 1.
Marseille’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Job-c18684 is Baup’s first coaching role since he left FC Nantes, after the club was relegated to Ligue 2 in 2009.
Elie Baup enjoys massive respect in France and many are viewing his appointment as an outstanding decision by the Ligue 1 outfit. However, the witty tactician has a difficult job on his hand.
Les Phoceens were less than convincing last season and it will take a lot of hard work from the Frenchman to get Marseille back to winning ways in Ligue 1.
After a troublesome campaign last season, fans would want Marseille to qualify for the Champions League next season and that is something Baup need to work at, keeping in mind that the club is in financial turmoil these days.
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