Diacre hired as Marseille women’s coach team two years after being fired by France

By Canadian Press on October 6, 2025.

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Corinne Diacre was hired as coach of Marseille’s women’s team on Monday, marking her return after a bitter end to her time in charge of the French national team.

Known as Les Marseillaises, the team was promoted from the second tier last season.

“Joining Marseille is a source of great pride. It’s a club whose identity, passion, and ambition fully resonate with my career path and my approach to football,” the 51-year-old Diacre said. “I can’t wait to get back on the field with my new players.”

Diacre was fired as France coach in March 2023, only four months before the Women’s World Cup.

The French soccer federation’s executive committee made the decision after several players expressed their discontent with Diacre, saying the situation had “reached a point of no return.”

At the time, Diacre said she was the victim of a smear campaign.

Diacre captained France during her playing career as a defender and made 121 appearances.

She took charge of the national team in 2017 and had already been criticized by players in the past. France midfielder Amandine Henry described the atmosphere at the 2019 World Cup as being tense and chaotic, with distressed players crying in their rooms.

Diacre was formerly coach of second-division men’s team Clermont in 2014. ___

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The Associated Press