Marseille

Olympique Marseille was founded in 1892 and adopted the name Olympique as part of the club’s name in 1899 as an honor to the Greeks who had founded Marseille 25 centuries before. Originally the club only played rugby, and it wasn’t until 1902 that they began to play football. In 1904 Marseille won their regional league and were able to…

Marseille’s most famous rivalry is with PSG, nicknamed Le Classique. The name is modeled after El Clásico, the famous rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona. This rivalry also extends outside of football, as it is between capital and province. These two clubs are also the only two French teams who have won major European

Marseille’s women’s team was founded in 2011, but the club was already active in women’s football in the 1920s. The team disappeared in the 1930s, but it makes it one of the European pioneers of women’s football. It was reintroduced in the 70s, but only lasted until 1983 before it was gone again. In 2011, it was introduced for a third time, and…

The club plays “Jump” by Van Halen before each home

Marseille’s home ground is the Stade Vélodrome, one of the most famous stadiums in France. They have played at the Stade Vélodrome since 1937, and after several renovations for several Euros and a World Cup, the current capacity is 67,000, making it the second largest stadium in France. TOURS: Check the club website for info on…

GETTING THERE: It’s a couple of miles from the city center and train station, so it’s best to take Metro Line 2. From the old port area, it’s about a 45-minute walk. Use this link to find it on Google Maps. PUBS and GRUB: There isn’t a whole lot near the stadium, so focus these efforts in the center and/or old port area….