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Five years before lifting the World Cup with the French team in 1998, Didier Deschamps lifted the Champions League trophy in 1993 with OM, the very first French club to win the prestigious European Cup. The Basque’s journey with the Phocaeans almost turned into a disaster. In the summer of 1989, Bernard Tapie had gone out of his way to recruit the defensive midfielder, then captain of FC Nantes at only 20 years old. “La Dèche” failed to win during his first season in Marseille and the boss of the Olympians then tried to get rid of him!
Deschamps’ complicated beginnings are recounted in the book
The 50 best OM playersrecently published by Editions Scotty by the journalist of Provence Fabrice Lamperti. “I had experienced difficulties linked to our president. He blocked me, impressed me, until I passed the threshold”recognized Deschamps once he became a coach. A loan to another D1 club was confirmed and a good season at the Girondins de Bordeaux allowed him to become a little more experienced at the high level, but during the summer of 1991, Bernard Tapie then negotiated the departure of the midfielder to PSG !
Deschamps, “he was very early”
Didier Deschamps is categorical, he does not want to leave OM. So, at 23, he quickly became the leader of the team from his number 6 position. “He always found the words, whether we like it or not, whether we appreciate him or not, to unite people around him. This was surely his greatest strength. Tactically and intellectually, he was very ahead”testified Jocelyn Angloma, his ex-teammate at OM, in the French team then in Valencia. The native of Bayonne was obviously predestined to become a coach, he who is obviously the coach of the 2018 world champions Blues.
Deschamps was not part of OM’s journey until the final of the 1991 Champion Clubs’ Cup lost against Red Star Belgrade on penalties, with the rock Carlos Mozer, the genius Chris Waddle, the dribbler Dragan Stojkovic or Ballon d’Or scorer Jean-Pierre Papin (all of whom feature in The 50 best OM players). But the defensive midfielder then led, during the 92-93 season, a less dashing but more solid OM to the European Grail. Like a symbol.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
 As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers.
 
 When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
