Olympique Marseille – the most legendary of all French football clubs. After some years of deep crisis, OM has ambitions to become once again a club to be counted on in Europe. A new management headed by Christophe Bouchet takes on the « Olympian » task to bring the club back to former glory. Our cameras followed the process, from negotiations with new players to those with the supporters, and show us the other side of coin – a club fighting its way back to top level.
Eps. 1 : The return of Hope
The OM and its fans celebrate the club’s return to European centre stage. Will the new management be able to transform a team without true international stars by working the transfer market ? The fan club is putting on the pressure…
Eps. 2 : Europe…at last
Preparations for the Champions League are under way. OM scores an easy win over Austria Vienna. The club has no other choice than make it back into the European top league within a few months. The stadium has to be brought to international standards, sponsors need to be found , merchandising prepared and the fines for light flares (forbidden in the stadium) needs to be paid. Then, disaster strikes : OM looses against Real Madrid…
Eps. 3 : Goalkeepers
Crisis in the goals : Carasso, the nr. 1 goalkeeper, is seriously injured, Jérémy Gavanon, the nr. 2, is considered too young to step in his shoes. But soon, the mere possibility of being able to hire Fabien Barthez makes the Marseille management’sz dreams come true. The press go es wild, FIFA sees red….
Eps. 4 : OM is Ours !
In Marseille, the fans hold special political power and represent an economic weight (they handle a good part of the box office !). But the two main fan clubs literally battle it out after a match, some fans have been arrested…
Eps. 5 : Stormy Weather…
After a series of defeats in 2003, the fans demand the head of coach Alain Perrin. Christophe Bouchet stands by him, but in the end, he bows to pressure from the stadium and the media. Perrin joins the prestigious club of those coaches that are out of a job and in a fight with their former clubs. A new coach is found : José Anigo.
And OM will always remain true to itself… Olympique Marseille !