Eric Chelle has dismissed speculation linking him with the head coaching position at Olympique de Marseille, insisting he never held talks with the club’s hierarchy.
Chelle explained that the rumours surfaced after he signed with a new sports agency, which subsequently made exploratory contact with several European clubs including Marseille while the Ligue 1 side were searching for a manager. However, he stressed that he personally had no involvement in any discussions.
“I had no contact with the leaders of Olympique de Marseille,” Chelle said.
“In fact, what happened is that I signed with an agency, a sports agency. And… so in order to evolve, in order to grow as a coach, I made a choice in my career by deciding to engage with this agency, which is a human agency, which has a vision, and to which I identified myself.
“So my agents decided, like all agents, to probe a little bit certain clubs in Europe, and especially in France. Yeah. At that moment, OM is looking for a coach. So my agency got in touch with the club to, I think, propose me. And then after, well, I… and my agent, we didn’t do anything else.”
He added that he never communicated with the club directly and was unaware of whether he featured on any shortlist.
“Now, shortlist, not shortlist, rumor by rumor, but me, no, I had no contact.
“Then you have to ask my agent if he was in contact and what position I was in this list, if I was in this list. But I didn’t do anything, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t communicate by saying that I was in contact.”
Chelle, who is originally from the Marseille region and has a personal connection to the club, admitted he would welcome the opportunity one day but reiterated that no approach was made.
“Well, as a former supporter of Olympique de Marseille… if you ask me the question, I say yes, I would like to coach OM. So, of course. Now, no, in no case did I communicate about it, in no case did I ask to be communicated about it.”
Marseille have since moved in a different direction, confirming the appointment of Habib Beye as their new manager, bringing an end to the speculation surrounding Chelle’s potential involvement.