More ups than downs for OM

uefa.com looks back at the achievements of Olympique de Marseille as part of our series of histories of the 18 clubs directly involved in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.

Early success
Olympique de Marseille were founded in 1899 after the spread of football to the Mediterranean port. Initially dominant in their local competition, Marseille reached the semi-finals of the inaugural national championship five times in their first decade without progressing further.

League title
Success came in the 1920s as Marseille claimed three French Cups, took control of the new Sud-Est regional competition, and in 1928/29 won a national Division d'Excellence play-off. Consequently, they were founder members of the professional national league in 1932, and claimed that title for the first time in 1936/37, along with cup wins in 1935, 1938 and 1943.

European bow
The league crown was reclaimed in 1947/48, but the next decade was forgettable and in 1959 Marseille suffered their first relegation. Three seasons later the club were promoted, and in 1962 they made their European debut in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup against R. Union St-Gilloise of Belgium. However, they would be demoted again before Marcel Leclerc's arrival as president in 1965 and a subsequent return to the top flight.

Domestic double
In 1969 the French Cup was won again, and after finishing second behind AS Saint-Etienne in the 1969/70 championship, Marseille went one better the next season and in 1971/72 completed a first domestic double. But Leclerc's departure that year foreshadowed another decline, and while the cup was secured in 1976, relegation followed in 1979/80. Under financial pressure, 'OM' nearly disappeared in April 1981 but were saved and, finally in 1984, promoted once more.

Golden era
A golden era then ensued from 1985 under Bernard Tapie's presidency. After claiming the French double in 1988/89 and defending the league title in 1989/90, the next season saw Marseille reach the European Champion Clubs' Cup final where they lost on penalties to FK Crvena Zvezda. However, in the year of their fifth straight league title, 1992/93, Marseille became France's first European champions, Basile Boli's goal beating AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League final.

Fall and rise
This was to prove the pinnacle though. That final league title was removed in a bribery scandal which left the club unable to defend the Champions League. Marseille were relegated as punishment a year later, though promotion was gained in 1995/96. Three seasons on, they were beaten UEFA Cup finalists against Parma AC, while the next term they reached the Champions League second group stage.

Debts cleared
That and the following campaign saw more financial troubles and relegation battles, but in 2001 owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus cleared €36.5m debts to keep the club from enforced demotion, and they were only just pipped by Olympique Lyonnais to the title in 2002/03.