1899-1918

As in many other places it is thanks to the sea that football arrived to Marseilles. If the port of Le Havre, very near to England, was the first door of « modern » football, many English (marine, working, engineers and others) who unloaded with the Vieux Port succeeded in making known this « new » sport. At the beginning they organized matches between them, generally of football Rugby. Because in this time « two » football existed. The one above, which is the ancestor of current Rugby, and the other called football association which will have more difficulty to start since we have to wait until 1895 to find the first trace of the round balloon. Among the existing companies, Sporting Club of Marseilles (wire of the « Fol Club ») is the one which will be the release by adding a section « association ». The disappearance of SCM in 1897 (it will come back one year later) will give the idea to others fans to create new teams and among them Football Club of Marseilles. This one started while playing Rugby, then came to football (fusion with Epée, club of fencing!) and at the end of 1899 it will disappear to leave place to the Olympique of Marseilles whose statutes are definitively adopted a few months later. The first engagement and first title: champion of the Littoral for 1899/1900 season.

About the development of football in France, a « national » championship will be organized. The various regional champions play against each others but with only one eliminatory match. And OM takes part in it for the first time at the end of season 1902/1903. It will reach the semi finale that it... will not play because of some players not qualified to play the last rounds. OM will keep reaching to this semi finale (1904,1905,1907,1908) without never managing to win it. It will have to wait 10 years to return at the top. Indeed, from 1909 to 1914 a new comer, the Swiss Stadium, will precede each time the « white » at the regional level and will even become 3 times Champion of France. The first Wolrd War will almost suspend any sports activity. Back in peace, many concurrent competitions are organized at the national level. One of them, the National Cup of USFSA (one of the great sport organizations of this time) will enable OM to play its first final (lost 1-4 against Le Havre Athlétic Club). This same year 1918 a very new competition is launched and will make OM its most famous club : French Cup. For the history, in the first match ever in this competition, OM beats Herculis of Monaco by 7 to 0.

1919-1934

In the following year, the French Federation of Football is created and becomes the only organization of soccer. Then the League of the South East is created. This one will set up a very high level championship which will be largely dominated by the FC of Sète (champion of 1921 to 1926 included) before OM wins its first title in 1929. Meanwhile this is the first national trophy with the victory (3-2 against Sète) in final of the French Cup in 1924. Followed by two other successes (1926 and 1927), by 3 Championships of the South East (1929 to 1931) and by the title of Champion of France by beating the French Club (Paris) by 3 to 2 in 1929. A lot of international players play then under the white shirt: Alcazar, Gone, Accepted, Dewaquez, Durand, Durbec, Gallay and Jean Boyer. This last one was, in 1923, the first Marseillais to play in national team. 1932 is an important date. This is the creation of professionalism and OM starts this new adventure which begins on September 11 by a victory 2-1 in Lille thanks to one double of Alcazar. This first championship was divided into 2 groups of 10 teams. The Olympians will finish seconds at 5 points of Lille, first champion of the professional era. The 7 first of each group will form division 1 of the season 1933/34 where OM will incredibly let escape what could have been its first double.

First the final of the Cup against FC Sète again which will win 2-1 under surging conditions. There is so many people that the barriers of the platforms yielded and the public is even on the edges of the ground. The environment is electric. OM is decreased, Kohut is badly got over a breakdown and Zermani (who opens the score while being off-side) is wounded at the end of the half-time. Sète will take the lead while scoring twice before Alcazar equalizes at the 78th. But Zermani, who made the pass, was in irregular position. This time the goal is refused but Alcazar, Di Lorto and Zermani protest so much that they will be suspended 15 days, after deliberation of the commission of discipline of the league. In the championship there remain only one game to be played for Sète and 3 for OM, ahead with 1 point of advance. Without wounded Zermani and Alcazar (selected in French team which plays in Amsterdam against the Netherlands) the first late match is lost at the Athletic Circle of Paris, which was then last! Again a defeat for the last regular day in Lille with Alcazar (forgiven) but without Zermani nor Di Lorto (OM plays with the 3rd goalkeeper, the second being wounded) whereas, at home, Sète by beating Antibes takes the lead. All is thus played in Marseilles at the time of the last late match against the Excelsior. Roubaix wins 4-2. The dreams of title fly away and the share of receipt of OM will even be stolen during the following night!

1935-1962

Fortunately, in spite of a sad 9th place in championship, the 1934/35 season will bring back the Cup on the Vieux-Port (victory 3-0 against Rennes) with Raymond Durand already victorious in 1927. After a quite pale 1935/36 season (6th in division 1, eliminated into 1/8 from the Cup) it is the recognition with the victory into 1936/37. It was the most close-fought championship during the pre-war period. OM which was only at the 8th place on October 24 appeared at the lead on March 1st not to be passed anymore. With the same number of points (38) than Sochaux, it is the goal average (the number of goals scored divided by the number of goals taken) which decided between the two formations (1,769 against 1,333). The renewal of the team (only 3 players of the finale out of 35 are always present) succeeded and it precedes quite another important renewal : the giving up of the stadium of Huveaune for the Velodrome, quite recently built for the 1938 World cup.

In the 1937/38 and 1938/39 Championships, OM finishes each time seconds and each time at 2 points from the title (Sochaux then Sète). The Cup continues to smile in Marseilles. It is back on Canebière in 1938 after the victory over Metz (2-1 after prolongations). Olympique of Marseilles becomes the only holder of the record with this 5th success.

The war, of course, will also upset football and from 1939/40 to 1942/43 the concepts of divisions are abolished to make place with championships by Zone. Second the first year (in a group of 5 teams), OM will win the following edition (9 clubs), then will finish 5th out of 9 and finally 3rd out of 16. In the Cup, a defeat in final in 1940 after having lead 1-0 against the RC Paris and in spite of vigorous protests on off-sides supposed for the 2 Parisian goals. The veteran of Marseilles team, the Hungarian Eisenhoffer, is 40 years old! He played the Olympic Games at this same place in 1924! In the 1943 finale against Bordeaux, the Olympiens leaders lodge complaint for non-qualification for the Cup of Bordeaux player Nemeur. On May 17, the commission gives gaining Marseilles, whereas the final was finished on a score of parity (2-2). But Colonel Pascot, in charge of the French sport, decides that a match is won on the ground and makes the final play again. OM wins 4-0. The same Colonel will decide to abolish the professionalism of clubs and to create teams known as « Federal » which will be to some extent selections with the best players of an area. To balance the whole, he assigns some good elements to the weaker considered teams! That’s for the theory, in the facts, « Marseilles-Provence » is OM of 42/43 plus 3 or 4 « new ». This formula of championship with 16 « selections » will finish on the victory of Lens-Artois but will not have any continuation. In 1944/45, new reorganization with 2 national groups, Marseilles finishes 4th out of 12 in the Southern group. Finally, the following season, divisions 1 and 2 are restored. The whites finish with 9th and 6th places, before taking down the title into 47/48 thanks to a final series of 9 matches without any defeat. After having joined Lille at the lead on April 11th, OM finishes with 1 point of advance and 4 veterans of the title 1937: Aznar, Bastien, Dart and Zatelli. Third the following season, then begins a very long period without much from relief. Even the Cup doesn’t like Phocéens anymore. The proof, after a final lost 1-2 against Nice into 54, the Marseillais will play only one quarterfinal (in 1962) until 1968. The best performance in championship will be limited to a 5th place into 56. For the first time, at the end of season 58/59, it is relegation. The purgatory will last 3 seasons before making the elevator the following season. The return within the top division is only for the end of the season 1965/66. Meanwhile there were the European beginnings. Quite modest to tell the truth. Engaged out of Cup of the Towns of Fairs (which will be transformed into UEFA Cup years later), the Marseillais beat on September 26, 1962 Union Saint Gilloise (1-0, goal of Sansonetti), club of the suburbs of Brussels. The return is less successfull, defeat 2-4 and elimination.

1969-1972

After two dull seasons, OM reappears by winning the Cup 2-0 against Bordeaux in 1969. The score is opened at the 82th due to a player called... Papin! Defender of Bordeaux, who scores against its own camp by deviating a shoot of Novi. Second in 1969/70, the Olympian will be champions into 71. Marseillais and players of Saint-Etienne are very close at the end of the 20 first matches to go. But a sand grain seized up the green machine at the time of the final sprint: the affair « Carnus-Bosquier ». The two international players of Saint-Etienne, at the end of their contract, having made public their verbal agreement with OM, the president Rocher of Saint-Etienne estimated that the defeat against Bordeaux (31th round) was due to these declarations, and he terminated their contract. Serious psychological fault, since the « greens », who were the only leaders since the 25th day, took only 8 points for their last 7 matches while OM, which had known an unproductive period in March-April, made fullscore : 14 out of 14 and won the title.

Same battle for the title of best striker: Josip Skoblar, the Dalmatian eagle as he was called, scores 44 goals (better European striker), 2 more goals than Keita, the Saint-Etienne player. Taking the lead at the 4th round not to leave it anymore, the Olympians carry out their first double the following season, with always Skoblar, better French striker, again in front of Keita. Keita will join him under the white shirt the following year. The championship ends up whereas OM has five more points than its second (Nimes) and a victory 2-1 against Bastia in final offers to OM its 8th French Cup. In the Cup of the Champions, the sound is different. Difficult even impossible to resist against great Ajax of Amsterdam, the uncontested European king of this time, nor the following season against Juventus of Turin.

1972-1989

In 72, an important page is being turned with the departure of president Leclerc for, once again, thorny financial questions. The club falls down in a relative 4 years long period of anonymity in championship. One period which ends up fortunately by a new victory in the french Cup (1976) when OM won against Lyon, 2-0. Nobody thought then it would be necessary to await ten years before playing a final again. The OM results in championship become really sad. At the point to go down to division 2 at the end of season 1979/80. The pure and simple disappearance of the club will even be evoked a time in April 1981. With a lot of debts, it is for once thanks to the Grouping of the Clubs Pros (the League then) that OM finishes the season with a team of young people, the famous « minots ». It should be said that these players had been two years before either champion of France Cadets, or Juniors (Gambardella Cup). In 1984, after three average seasons at the lower stage, it is the return to 1st division thanks to the title of champion of group A. The two following championships will be without glares (16th and 12th). Only good result, the final of the French Cup in 1986 (defeat 1-2 against Bordeaux) between two events which will condition the continuation of OM history. First of all the arrival of Bernard Tapie, then the one of Jean-Pierre Papin. Nearly eight years of madness will follow. Some will say the most beautiful ever known by Olympique of Marseilles. The first season (1986/87), the title is very close (lost by only 4 points) as well as the Cup, also lost against Bordeaux .

For the story, it is the first time in the history of the finale that two years in a row, two same teams meet. 1987/88 will be one year of transition (6th in championship, eliminated in the 1/32 from the Cup by Bastia but semi-finalist of Cup of the Cups), followed by a first big success with the second double acquired into 1988/89. At the beginning of championship, O.M. still seeks itself, and the trainer Gerard Banide is fired at the end of two disappointing matches. His successor Gerard Gili manages to carry the club in first position to the 14th round. The bad results of the P.S.G. benefits to OM which takes again the lead at the 31st round and then is far away by beating its rival (1-0) thanks to a shooting gun from Sauzée at the 90th minute of the 35th day. In the Cup, Monaco is beaten 4-3, with a hat-trick of JPP. It’s the tenth victory in final, the absolute French record.

1990-1993

Although the team was reinforced, the second consecutive title was not easy, due to the large resistance of Bordeaux. Because of three defeats in April (one against OM) Bordeaux lost the title. In the Cup of the Champions the Olympians, after having beaten Benfica 2-1 at the Velodrome, will be eliminated (0-1) in semi-final return in Lisbon due to a goal scored with the hand by Vata at 7 minutes of the final whistle. Another title in 1990/91 but obscured by two failures in final. The Cup, lost against Monaco at the latest minute 0-1, is the logical consequence of the defeat a few days earlier in Bari for the final of the Cup of the Champions, only after the penalties, against Red Star of Belgrade. However OM had made the formidable exploit to eliminate Milan AC in the 1/4, the team victorious of the two preceding editions. The force of OM will be not to give up in the 1991/92 season, terminated by a new title but also by an elimination out of European Cup into 1/8 of finale. Marseillais and Monegasques are very close in championship (Monaco is leading until the 12th round, then is passed by OM), and are also at the top on the European level. Three days after having obtained a qualification for the final of the Cup of the Cups, the Monegasques (who were one point behind OM) are severely beaten by their rivals (0-3) on April 18 in the Louis II Stadium.

Fourth consecutive title thus for OM which was on the way to try a new double title if the catastrophe of Furiani had involved cancellation of the semi-final Bastia-Marseilles, the winner having to meet Monaco. And now back for us at 1992/93 season. For Olympian this season is an apotheosis: the club not only manages to win the championship for the 5th time in a row (contrary to the previous seasons, the fight for the title is very tight since, successively, 10 teams are leaders: OM is far above only up to the 30st day) but still and especially to win the first French Cup of the Champions on a goal from Boli against Milan AC. OM thus managed definitively to do better than Rheims and Saint Etienne, beaten in final, in the history of French football. This historical event, as still today many streamers proudly exposed by the Marseilles fans in all the French stadiums point out it, makes that the Olympian are « forever the first ».

1993-1997

Hardly the joy of the victory of May 26 fell down that « the scandal of V.A.-O.M. », an advanced match of the 36th round won 1-0 by Phocéens, covers the first page of the newspapers : denunciation of an attempt of corruption, denials, consents, then denials of the Marseilles leaders, imprisonments, interrogations. For the first time, French justice inquires into a match of football! The Federal Council (22/9/1993) while waiting for the judgment, will give lost match... to both clubs, by score of 0-0, thus taking 2 points off OM (which does not prevent from remaining at the top of the standings), and will decide to leave the title of champion of France without any winner. The summer is animated by the catastrophic developments of V.A.-O.M. U.E.F.A. is the one which strikes first while forbiding OM to take part in the European Cup (6/9/1993), then the F.I.F.A. adds more while withdrawing the Olympians from taking part in the Intercontinental Cup and Supercoupe. Deprived of its receipts of European Cup, the club must sell its stars in high season. In spite of this succession of hard blows, OM nevertheless manages to make good figure by finishing second of the championship.

On the French level, the sporting epilogue of this affaire will be known on April 22, 1994: the Federal Council, concluding that « there had been a tentative of corruption », will confirm the suspension of the title of champion until final decision of justice, and will decide moreover retrogradation of OM back in division 2 while authorizing OM to play the UEFA Cup. 1994/95 Season will be full of contrast : a last turn of european cup, one semi finale of French Cup, but the club continues to cross storms. The Tapie era finishes on December 11, 1994, and the financial hole is such as the liquidation (April 7, 1995) with its consequence (retrogradation of the club in lower division than the one for which it would have been qualified) is inevitable. The club sets out again on new bases, but its initial objective, back to 1st division, is now to avoid retrogradation in National. For that, it is imperative to finish in the three first places and instead of being promoted in division 1, OM is maintained in D2. In this extremely difficult climate, with procession of the trainers, the club achieves its goals into 95/96. After a difficult start, the Marseillais will be always classified in the top three teams. The rise is done, and OM is even playing one second consecutive semi-final of French Cup. The return in top division in 1996/97 is average: 11th. But the following season, the 4th place won by the men of Rolland Courbis is synonymous with UEFA Cup. And it is even in a new Velodrom with 60 000 places that OM plays from now on its matchs.

1998-2000

The following year will leave a taste bitter, or sweetened according to points of views. In the championship, incredible dramatic is played with Bordeaux. After 10 rounds, OM counts 1 point less than them, leaders. At the 15th round , it is the opposite. It will be thus until the 32nd round. OM loses 1-2 in Paris in the last 6 minutes while Bordeaux wins in Lens.

At the time of the last round, OM wins its game, but Bordeaux winning in Paris in front of amorphous PSG are crowned champions. In spite of this exhausting fight, OM plays the same year, its 3rd European final. It is lost 0-3 against Parma with extenuating circumstances, since many key players don’t play, either wounded, or suspended following « muscular » semi-finals against the Italians of Bologna. Centenary OM will thus not see an additional title being added to its rich prize list.

Paradox of the paradoxes, season 1999/2000 will see OM passing from the top of Europe to the doors of division 2. At side of authentic exploits in Champions League (victories 1-0 against the Europeans Champions Manchester United and the billionaires of Chelsea), the Marseilles club carries out a chaotic course in championship. Fourth after 10 rounds, eighth after 20, at two rounds from the end, Phocéens have only 3 points more (a victory thus) than the first to go down. Nancy, in the same situation, comes to obtain the share of points in Marseilles for the 33rd round. Only 2 points. All is played on May 13 with Sedan. After to be lead by 0-1, the Olympians score twice and are saved. But at one minute from the end, Sedan equalizes. If they still score it is back to D2... Fortunately the match finishes on 2-2 and place in D1 is preserved thanks to a better difference of goals. The last minute of championship 1998/99 had cost title, the one of 1999/2000 is saving!

2000-2005

The 2000-01 season is one of the most agitated of OM’s history. The trainers (Braga then Clemente and finally Ivic) and the managers (Marchand then Cano) follow one another. Logically, the team of Ngotty, Pouget and Marcelinho struggles in the depths. Only goals of Belmadi, and the contribution of Weah, enable OM not to deeply fall. In April, the chaotic situation leads Robert Louis-Dreyfus to find a joker: he gives the keys of the sporting group to Bernard Tapie. The former "Boss" succeeds for the first part of the contract by avoiding relegation. The continuation is less happy in 2001-02. The hyperactivity on the mercato in summer causes satisfaction (Leboeuf, Runje, Van Buyten) but also disillusion (Delfim, Fernandes, Chapuis, Torrisi, Tuzzio, or Dill). The amalgam will never be done but OM has been finally classified in the first part of the standings (9th) for the first time for three years.

2002-03 is the season back to the normal. Bernard Tapie goes away discreetly and is replaced by Christophe Bouchet. The first decision of the former journalist is to entrust the team to Alain Perrin, the trainer who goes up and that the Lyons champion wanted. For once, OM plays the chart of wisdom and stability to the mercato (three recruits). And that pays. In spite of some insufficiencies, the formation led by Perrin makes a beautiful course, taking down even the honorary title of champion of autumn. OM finishes with the 3rd place, synonymous with preliminary turn to the Champions League. In September 2003, OM is finally back in European competition. Pulling offers Real Madrid to OM. An opposition which illustrates a little more the return to the foreground of OM. To conclude this season full of hopes, recruitment was consequent. With at the top a promising pair of strickers : Drogba-Mido. But whereas one directed oneself towards a great year, all collapses in a few months. In the middle of a terrible winter, Alain Perrin is fired to be replaced by Anigo. The electric shock does not have the discounted effects in championship where OM quickly has to forget its objectives. Then all the glances turned to the UEFA Cup. The Olympian collect the exploits there while successively beating Liverpool, Inter Milan and Newcastle to reach the final. A royal course which revives the flame of the fans. It is not a hazard if the Marseilles streamer "Proud", to be garaged since years, makes its return to the foot of the Southern Turn. Unfortunately, the contestable expulsion of Fabien Barthez in Gothenburg, seals the fate of the finale. It too much unbalances the ratio of forces between the valencians favourites and outsiders Marseilles. The champion of Spain wins 2-0 against the sad Olympians.

Season 2004-05 is even played before the first match of the championship. Indeed, in mid-July, Marseilles says good-bye to its new idol, Didier Drogba, sold for 37 million euros in Chelsea. This transfer changes everything in the policy of the club. Announced final improvements, one passes to a deep rehandling. It does not take in the group, renewed with 80%. The results stressed up the relations with the supporters who await changes. In November, Anigo resigns, imitated a few days later by Bouchet. The arrival of Philippe Troussier offers a clearing on the ground. After a thundering beginning of year, the team dreams eyes opened. Second, it is even seen coming to tickle Lyon. But after having known a superb series, OM saw then a delicate period with more than two months without victory, and must satisfy itself with the fourth place.