Super Eagles’ Eric Chelle Loses Marseille Job To Habib Beye

Olympique de Marseille have turned to one of their own after a turbulent spell, confirming the appointment of former defender Habib Beye as head coach.

The decision ends speculation over the future of Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle, who had emerged as a surprise contender for the post.

Marseille appointed Habib Beye following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi, whose exit came on the back of a crushing 5-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain and a disappointing Champions League group stage elimination.

The club sit fourth in Ligue 1, trailing leaders Lens by 12 points, and are eager to steady the ship before the season slips further away.

Beye, 48, knows the corridors of the Stade Vélodrome well. He spent four years in Marseille colours during his playing days before moving to Newcastle United in 2007. A later spell at Aston Villa followed, and he eventually wound down his career in England’s lower leagues.

His recent managerial stint at Stade Rennais ended only last week after a four-match winless run left the Breton side sixth in the table. Yet Marseille’s hierarchy believe his connection to the club could prove decisive.

Beye’s first assignment will come against Brest on Friday, a fixture that could offer an early glimpse into whether sentiment and familiarity can spark a revival.

The development represents a missed opportunity for Chelle. The Franco-Malian tactician had shown genuine interest in the role, even making personal contact with club president Pablo Longoria to outline his vision for the nine-time French champions.

Reports suggested Longoria was weighing up a short-term, four-month deal for Chelle, with a performance clause that would trigger a one-year extension if he delivered the Coupe de France and secured a third-place league finish.

French journalist Fabrice Romain claimed Chelle had formally applied, eager for a return to club football despite being under contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) until 2027.

Sports journalist MikeThePundit fuelled the conversation on 𝕏, writing, “Marseille president Pablo Longoria is strongly interested in having Eric Chelle as new head coach.

“It’s centred around a four-month contract, to include a performance-based clause for a 1-year extension should Chelle win the Coupe de France and secure 3rd in the league.”

In the end, Marseille opted for Beye, with talks between the club and other candidates failing to reach a conclusion. Names such as Pierre Aristouy, Sergio Conceição and Christophe Galtier had also surfaced, while interim boss Pancho Abardonado remained a fallback option.

Back in Nigeria, there appears little appetite for losing Chelle. NFF president Ibrahim Gusau dismissed any notion of an early departure.

“We still have a one-year contract with Eric, and whatever interest anyone shows in him will have to wait until his contract expires,” Gusau said.

“It’s not just about interest in him because he has got results with the Super Eagles. Even if they offer him more money, do they have the necessary materials for him to work with? We quite understand that he enjoys working with Nigeria, and I know he believes he can achieve his dreams in Africa with us.”

Chelle, appointed in January 2025, has overseen 18 official matches with 12 wins and six draws, though two of those stalemates ended in penalty shootout defeats.

He guided Nigeria to third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and has spoken openly about building a coaching profile strong enough to one day break new ground in European football.