Marseille Sacks Gattuso After Five Months In Charge

Marseille have sacked Gennaro Gattuso as their manager after just five months in charge and replaced him with Jean-Louis Gasset.

Gattuso took over at the French club in late September and leaves with them ninth in Ligue 1.

The Italian claimed just nine wins from his 24 matches as manager, losing six times.

Gasset, 70, was recently sacked by Ivory Coast after the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, before they went on to win the tournament.

“Olympique de Marseille announces the end of its collaboration with Gennaro Gattuso,” Marseille said.

“Marseille would like to extend its special thanks to Gennaro and his entire staff for the unfailing commitment and professionalism they have shown on a daily basis, and wishes them all the best for the future.”

Gattuso joined Marseille as a replacement for now Villarreal manager Marcelino, who himself had only been at the helm in the south of France for three months.

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After a slow start to his time in France, four consecutive league wins in December took Marseille up to sixth in the table.

But Marseille have not won any of their past six Ligue 1 matches, four of which have ended in draws.

Gattuso took charge of 15 league games at Stade Velodrome, winning five, drawing five and losing five.

Marseille were also knocked out of the French Cup last month after a penalty shootout defeat by league rivals Rennes.

Despite the poor run of form, Marseille remain in the Europa League. Finishing second in Group B behind English debutants Brighton, Marseille host Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday (20:00 GMT) in the second leg of their knockout-round play-off match, having drawn 2-2 last week.

BBC/Ejiofor Ezeifeoma