Olympique de Marseille was founded in 1899 and quickly established itself as a major force in French sports. Initially, the club participated in rugby and other sports before fully committing to football. Golden Era (1930s–1940s): Marseille won its first French league title in 1937 and its first Coupe de France in 1924. The club remained strong during the 1930s and 1940s, winning multiple domestic trophies. Post-war to 1970s: OM saw fluctuating success but returned to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They won the French league in 1971 and 1972 and captured several Coupe de France titles during this period.

What was meant to be a celebratory evening at the Parc des Princes turned into a sobering reminder of Paris Saint-Germain’s vulnerabilities. As fans filled the stands to bid farewell to Kylian Mbappé, emotions were high, expectations even higher — but it was Lorient who stole the show with a stunning 2-1 victory over the Ligue 1 champions.

1980s–1990s – European Glory: Under businessman Bernard Tapie in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Marseille reached its peak. The club won four consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 1989 to 1992 and reached two European Cup finals. In 1993, Marseille became the first—and so far only—French club to win the UEFA Champions League, defeating AC Milan 1–0 in the final. Scandal and Relegation (1993–1994): Shortly after their Champions League triumph, Marseille was involved in a match-fixing scandal. The club was stripped of its 1993 Ligue 1 title and relegated to the second division.