TNT Sports
Looking for candidates
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Published 24/11/2004 at 18:00 GMT
Olympique Marseille are weighing up the potential candidates to take over from Jose Anigo who resigned as coach on Tuesday. The 43-year-old Marseille-born Anigo paid the price for two defeats by arch-rivals Paris St Germain in the last month, a record see
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Marseille's supporters clubs, a major force in the sometimes tricky day-to-day management of the controversial Ligue 1 club, had called for president Christophe Bouchet to step down but it was Anigo who sacrificed himself.
Albert Emon, who has twice taken over in recent seasons pending the appointment of a new coach, will again take the reins, possibly until the winter break.
But the exuberant Mediterranean port was playing guessing games on Wednesday, going through a shortlist that reads like a hall of fame for unemployed coaches.
Anigo's strength was his 'street credibility' as a former Marseille player, born in the city, who always remained faithful to his colours and will stay on as a youth coach.
Among the names most frequently mentioned as possible successors, a number boast the same local credentials.
POSSIBLE CANDIDATES
Gerard Gili played for Marseille as a substitute goalkeeper before starting a far more successful coaching career in 1989. The aloof Gili took Marseille to a domestic title in 1990, was sacked and then returned for another spell from 1995 to 1997.
He was briefly Egypt's manager and was in charge of Bastia last season. Jean Tigana also features among the likely contenders.
Though born in Guinea, the former France midfielder spent most of his childhood in the suburbs of Marseille and ended his playing career with the club in the early 1990s.
At Olympique Lyon, Monaco and Fulham, Tigana established a reputation as one of the most respected coaches in Europe but his stubborn and inflexible character might be a problem at Marseille.
Tigana would probably ask to be in control of every sporting aspect at the club, a freedom Bouchet would not allow former France captain Laurent Blanc when he was turned down for a manager's job last season.
Tigana is also probably too expensive.
The same financial reservations would probably apply to former Germany manager Rudi Voeller, who resigned as AS Roma coach earlier this season.
Voeller left fine memories in Marseille, spearheading the team who won the European Cup in 1993.
JOBLESS
Jacques Santini and Bruno Metsu have no direct links with Marseille but are jobless.
Former France manager Santini left English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month and could try his luck at Marseille after being in charge of other big names in French soccer like St Etienne and Olympique Lyon.
Metsu, who shot to fame by taking Senegal to the quarter-finals of the last World Cup, is currently negotiating his departure from Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates.
His name came up because he is on excellent terms with Marseille sports director Pape Diouf, who was the agent for most of the Senegal players before joining Marseille.
Daily Le Parisien said Carlos Bianchi, who quit Boca Juniors in July and turned down the Argentina job in September, was favourite. Argentine Bianchi spent many years in France and is still the top scorer in the history of the French league.
Corsican Frederic Antonetti, formerly with Bastia and St Etienne, has also been mentioned as a candidate.
However, Marseille could decide to give the job to Emon who, like Anigo, is dedicated to the club and might be interested in taking over as coach on a full-time basis for a change.
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