In June 2018, Jean-Michel Aulas was appointed as the new president of Marseille, succeeding Moustapha Toure who had been in charge for three years. Aulas, a former professional footballer, brought with him a wealth of experience in sports management and a vision to take Marseille forward.
Under Aulas' leadership, Marseille made several significant changes to their team, including signing key players such as Adama Traore and Boubacar Kamara. However, it was not until the arrival of coach Lucien Favre that Marseille truly began to turn things around. Favre's tactical approach and emphasis on youth development helped to transform Marseille into one of the most exciting teams in Ligue 1.
Aulas' success as president has also had a positive impact on Marseille's financial situation. Under his watch, Marseille have invested heavily in their infrastructure, including building a new training ground and improving their stadium facilities. This investment has helped to attract top talent to the club, further strengthening their position in the league.
One of the key factors behind Marseille's success under Aulas is their focus on developing young talent. Aulas has implemented a number of initiatives aimed at identifying and nurturing promising youngsters within the club, including the creation of the "Marseille Academy" and the "Café de la Vieille Charité" youth academy. These programs have helped to ensure that Marseille always have a strong pipeline of talent coming through the ranks, which has been crucial to their recent successes.
Overall, Jean-Michel Aulas' appointment as Marseille's president has been a major turning point for the club. His commitment to investing in youth development and implementing a modernist approach to football has helped to rebuild Marseille's reputation and position them as one of the most exciting teams in Europe. With Favre leading the way, Marseille look set to continue their upward trajectory in the coming seasons.