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Topics: Roberto De Zerbi, Premier League, Football, Manchester United, Manchester City
Luke Davies
Topics: Roberto De Zerbi, Premier League, Football, Manchester United, Manchester City
Former Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly being considered by two Premier League clubs alongside Spurs following Thomas Frank’s sacking.
De Zerbi boasts previous experience of managing in the Premier League, with the Italian taking charge of Brighton between 2022 and 2024 before arriving at Ligue 1 side Marseille.
The 46-year-old impressed during his time on the south coast and guided the Seagulls to a highest-ever top-flight finish with the side finishing sixth in 2022/23 before finishing 11th the following year.
And despite coaching Marseille to a second-place finish in 2024/25, the current campaign has proven difficult for De Zerbi with the side currently fourth in the French top-flight, trailing leaders Paris Saint-Germain by 12 points after 21 matches.
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On Sunday (February 8), Marseille fell to a 5-0 trouncing against PSG, with De Zerbi leaving his position by “mutual agreement” on Wednesday (February 11).
“Following consultations involving all stakeholders in the club’s leadership – the owner, president, director of football and head coach – it was decided to opt for a change at the head of the first team,” Marseille said in a club statement.
“This was a collective and difficult decision, taken after thorough consideration, in the best interests of the club and in order to address the sporting challenges of the end of the season.”
However, just hours after leaving Marseille, the Italian is already linked with a return to the dugout with rumours fuelled by the fact Frank has been sacked by Spurs.
As reported by journalist Ben Jacobs, “De Zerbi [is] keen on a Premier League return” while he remains a “candidate” for potential jobs at Manchester United and Manchester City should the two roles become vacant in the summer of 2026.
There has been some speculation about City boss Pep Guardiola’s future, while current United head coach Michael Carrick is also only contracted to the Red Devils until the end of the 2025/26 season.
Speaking to TNT Sports in January, De Zerbi hinted at having unfinished business with the Premier League.
The Italian admitted: "I feel my work in the city [Marseille] is not finished. In the future, for sure, the Premier League is a different fashion to any other league in the world, but at the moment, my focus is just on Marseille. The Premier League is absolutely the best league in the world, and I have great memories of when I worked in Brighton. It was an amazing experience for me.”