Two Asturians from Gijón are guiding one PSG project and another Marseille side with a bold plan. Marcelino stepping into Olympique de Marseille (OM) on a Tuesday is a surprise many didn’t see coming. The two Gijón natives, Marcelino and Luis Enrique (now at PSG), are set to steer the two giants of French football. The clubs sit on opposite ends of a vast financial gulf, as wide as the gap between Oviedo and Doha, the home of OM president Pablo Longoria. Al-Khelaïfi, born in Qatar, leads Paris Saint-Germain as a powerful figure behind the scenes, a proxy of wealth at the Parc des Princes.
Luis Enrique signed to PSG until 2025 and doesn’t clear Mbappé’s doubt: “I’m keeping it secret”
Marseille looks on with envy at PSG’s deep pockets and global pull, imagining their own show windows filled with trophies. The Champions League, a prize OM has chased since 1995, remains the dream that keeps the club restless. This enduring ambition has pushed the Parc des Princes into a relentless cycle of high-stakes signings and rapid turnover. Since 2016, coaches like Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, and Christophe Galtier have rotated through Paris, leaving behind a club that believes victory can be bought as easily as fuels the gulf nations ship. The saga hints at lessons learned in European battles: teams win with a collective drive, not just star names. The appointment of Luis Enrique, a coach known for backbone and timely leadership, signals a confident shift in strategy. This choice hints at what PSG hopes to become. //return
Yet every summer brings questions about Mbappé’s future, which could steer a project led by Neymar, once a student of Lucho who has since faded from the spotlight after leaving Barca. As Mbappé toys with options, Luis Enrique promises a more attacking style, telling the audience that “the players will have fun every week,” while also warning that changes are coming.
In Marseille, Marcelino reports to his close ally and now president Pablo Longoria. There is a long journey between Gijón and Oviedo in terms of ages and backgrounds. Marcelino, 57, and Longoria, 37, bring different kinds of experience to a club that has spent years rethinking its leadership. Longoria began his climb to the top early, joining clubs and earning recognition before Marseille brought him on as head of sports management. His career path included roles at Recreativo de Huelva, Valencia, and stints alongside Barcelona’s sports director at the time. In 2020, Marseille asked for changes in sports management and Longoria stepped into the presidency in early 2021, at a young age.
When Spain’s World Cup bid faltered in Qatar, Longoria saw Marcelino as a friend but clear-eyed enough to keep discussions practical. Now the two will work together to bring Marseille back to the top of the French league, a challenge that has eluded OM since 2010 while PSG collected multiple national titles in the interim. The vision is to create a dynamic, agile, and ambitious squad that can compete against Paris. The plan contrasts Marcelino’s orthodox approach with the high-octane, hedonistic style associated with PSG, setting up a clash of philosophies in the league.
Two Asturians from Gijón are guiding one PSG project and another Marseille side with a bold plan. Marcelino stepping into Olympique de Marseille on a Tuesday is a surprise many didn’t see coming. The two Gijón natives, Marcelino and Luis Enrique (now at PSG), are set to steer the two giants of French football. The clubs sit on opposite ends of a vast financial gulf, as wide as the gap between Oviedo and Doha, the home of OM president Pablo Longoria. Al-Khelaïfi, born in Qatar, leads Paris Saint-Germain as a powerful figure behind the scenes, a proxy of wealth at the Parc des Princes.
Luis Enrique signed to PSG until 2025 and doesn’t clear Mbappé’s doubt: “I’m keeping it secret”
Marseille looks on with envy at PSG’s deep pockets and global pull, imagining their own show windows filled with trophies. The Champions League, a prize OM has chased since 1995, remains the dream that keeps the club restless. This enduring ambition has pushed the Parc des Princes into a relentless cycle of high-stakes signings and rapid turnover. Since 2016, coaches like Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, and Christophe Galtier have rotated through Paris, leaving behind a club that believes victory can be bought as easily as fuels the gulf nations ship. The saga hints at lessons learned in European battles: teams win with a collective drive, not just star names. The appointment of Luis Enrique, a coach known for backbone and timely leadership, signals a confident shift in strategy. This choice hints at what PSG hopes to become.
Yet every summer brings questions about Mbappé’s future, which could steer a project led by Neymar, once a student of Lucho who has since faded from the spotlight after leaving Barca. As Mbappé toys with options, Luis Enrique promises a more attacking style, telling the audience that “the players will have fun every week,” while also warning that changes are coming.
In Marseille, Marcelino reports to his close ally and now president Pablo Longoria. There is a long journey between Gijón and Oviedo in terms of ages and backgrounds. Marcelino, 57, and Longoria, 37, bring different kinds of experience to a club that has spent years rethinking its leadership. Longoria began his climb to the top early, joining clubs and earning recognition before Marseille brought him on as head of sports management. His career path included roles at Recreativo de Huelva, Valencia, and stints alongside Barcelona’s sports director at the time. In 2020, Marseille asked for changes in sports management and Longoria stepped into the presidency in early 2021, at a young age.
When Spain’s World Cup bid faltered in Qatar, Longoria saw Marcelino as a friend but clear-eyed enough to keep discussions practical. Now the two will work together to bring Marseille back to the top of the French league, a challenge that has eluded OM since 2010 while PSG collected multiple national titles in the interim. The vision is to create a dynamic, agile, and ambitious squad that can compete against Paris. The plan contrasts Marcelino’s orthodox approach with the high-octane, hedonistic style associated with PSG, setting up a clash of philosophies in the league.
Marcelino, eyeing his first major managerial stint abroad, aims to assemble a team that is fast, resilient, and adaptable. The project seeks to challenge Paris not only with tactics but with a culture that values collective effort over the mere presence of stars. The story in French football’s top flight reads like a duel between two distinct paths, each backed by strong leadership and a shared hunger for glory.