Marseille have lost six of their first eight matches this season, a run not seen at the club since the 1979-80 campaign, when they were eventually relegated from France’s top division.
The latest setback came in the Europa League, as Marseille were beaten 1-0 by Olympiacos at the Stade Velodrome. That defeat revived concerns over the team’s defensive weaknesses and mental fragility, just days after a 1-0 away victory against Troyes in Ligue 1 had appeared to suggest their difficult start was beginning to turn around.
Bruno Genesio, who has previously managed Lille and Lyon, has also become the first Marseille head coach in more than 60 years to lose six of the club’s opening eight matches of a season.
The previous coach to experience the same record was Mario Zatelli during the 1964-65 season. However, the closest equivalent to Marseille’s current start came in 1979-80, a campaign which ended with the club dropping out of the top flight.