French club Marseille hires Stéphane Richard as president amid turbulent season

French club Marseille hired Stéphane Richard as its new president on Friday amid another turbulent season. The 64-year-old Richard is the former chief executive of French telecoms giant Orange and will replace Alban Juster, who has been there on an interim basis since Pablo Longoria lost his position. Richard officially starts in July.

Marseille parted ways with Longoria last month on the back of coach Roberto De Zerbi's departure . De Zerbi, who is now coaching struggling Tottenham , left in the wake of a crushing 5-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain and an embarrassing exit from the Champions League following a 3-0 loss at Club Brugge on the final day of the group stage. Marseille was the first French side to win the Champions League — back in 1993 — but PSG matched that feat last season.

While PSG is now the dominant force in French soccer, Marseille has not won a trophy since the League Cup in 2012. Attachment to the club Marseille's 67,000-capacity Stade Velodrome stadium become known as Orange Vélodrome due to a naming rights change in 2016, which came during Richard's tenure at Orange. Richard said he had a fondness for Marseille — where he passed his baccalaureate exams and has owned a house — and is a regular attendee for games against bitter rival PSG.

“I know the city intimately and I know the context of the club,” he said at a news conference Friday. “I love this stadium, coming here. Every time there's a victory, like against PSG early this season, the atmosphere is wonderful.