Sampaoli quits after taking Marseille back to Europe’s elite

By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer

Having led Marseille back to the Champions League and united the hard-to-please fans behind him, coach Jorge Sampaoli left the club’s preseason preparations in tatters when he quit. After Marseille announced his departure, Sampaoli claimed his objectives were not met by the club. There was seemingly no bitterness between him and club president Pablo Longoria. It seemed to be simply a matter of principle since Sampaoli didn’t even ask for compensation. Sampaoli was popular with the very demanding fans and guided 1993 Champions League winner Marseille back into the competition, after the southern club finished second in the league to Paris Saint-Germain. But the 62-year-old Argentine was unhappy with a lack of signings.