It was expected, it is now official: Jean-Pierre Papin, 59, will join Olympique de Marseille in the coming days, the club with which he won the Golden Ball in 1991, announced Tuesday the president of OM Pablo Longoria, without specifying the function of the ex-striker.
“I want to formalize that yes, Jean-Pierre Papin will come to OM. He will incorporate himself into his activities before we leave (for a training camp) in Spain and then he will go with the team to Spain,” Longoria said.
“In 100 years everyone will remember Jean-Pierre Papin”
“We must first clarify his function at the club, he continued, implying that he would have a functional position. I don’t like giving people political roles, especially when it comes to one of the best players at the club and one of the most important in French football. »
Nicknamed “JPP”, the former Marseille striker (1986-1992) and the France team (54 caps, 30 goals) “will be placed under the direct authority of the president. He will be in daily contact with David (Friio, the sports director), Javier (Ribalta, the director of football) and me, ”said Pablo Longoria.
Papin left his position as Chartres coach at the end of October “for professional reasons”, according to the Chartres club.
“He can give us good advice. To build a club, you must have people to whom the history of the club belongs, ”insisted the president of OM. And to add: “In five, ten, 20 years I will leave this club and no one will remember who I was. But in 100 years everyone will remember Jean-Pierre Papin. »
