Deschamps takes over at Marseille

(GETTY IMAGES)

Former France captain Didier Deschamps will take over as coach of Olympique Marseille next season, the Ligue 1 title contenders said today.

Captain of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 winning France teams, Deschamps will take over from Belgian Eric Gerets, who previously announced he was stepping down at the end of the season.

"He has signed a two-year contract," OM said on their website (www.om.net).

"A meeting between the club's president and its major shareholder last Friday confirmed this choice. After Eric Gerets, Marseille could only set their sights on a top coach.

"The choice of Didier Deschamps, whose playing and coaching career speak for him, was a natural one."

The 40-year-old Deschamps won the 1993 Champions League as a player with Marseille before going on to enjoy success with Juventus in Italy and Chelsea in England.

He won three Serie A titles and the 1996 Champions League with Juve.

As a coach, he led Monaco to the 2004 Champions League final and helped Juventus win promotion back to Serie A in the 2006/07 season.

Marseille are top of the Ligue 1 standings with four matches remaining.