Marseille agree terms for Pablo Longoria exit as McCourt reshapes leadership

Olympique de Marseille have confirmed the departure of former president Pablo Longoria after reaching an agreement with the Spanish executive on the terms of his exit.The Ligue 1 club said on March 23 that McCourt Global and Longoria had “found an agreement on the conditions of his departure”, without disclosing financial details or whether any settlement is involved.Marseille added that they wanted to acknowledge his contribution, saying: “OM would like to salute the commitment, passion and work carried out by Pablo Longoria over the past six years in the service of the club.”Longoria, 40, later posted an emotional message on LinkedIn, presenting his Marseille spell as a formative period and thanking staff and supporters.  Pablo Longoria said: “I am grateful to football, to Marseille and to Olympique de Marseille for the trust placed in me over these six seasons. Above all, I am grateful to all the people who made this journey possible – employees, coaches, players and supporters. I close this chapter with respect, perspective and gratitude.”His departure formalises a shift that had already reduced his responsibilities in recent weeks as McCourt reworked the club’s structure following a turbulent season and continued scrutiny of sporting decision-making.  French media have reported that Alban Juster is leading the executive board on an interim basis while Marseille assess longer-term governance options, though the club have not named a permanent successor.Longoria joined Marseille in July 2020 in a senior executive role before being promoted to president in February 2021, replacing Jacques-Henri Eyraud after a major supporter protest at the club’s training base.On the pitch, Marseille reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2022 and the Europa League semi-finals in 2024, and qualified twice for the UEFA Champions League during Longoria’s tenure. They did not win a trophy in that period, with Marseille’s last major domestic title remaining the 2010 Ligue 1 crown.Longoria’s presidency was also characterised by frequent coaching changes as Marseille attempted to balance sporting targets with the volatility that has repeatedly surrounded the club since McCourt acquired them in 2016.The leadership reset comes at a time when European qualification remains a key commercial driver in French football, with participation in UEFA competitions shaping matchday, sponsorship and broadcast-related revenues, and influencing budget planning ahead of each summer transfer window.