Michel Appointed Marseille Coach, Ending Zinedine Zidane Rumours

French legend Zinedine Zidane won't be leaving his post as the Real Madrid Castilla boss to take over at Marseille after the French club confirmed the hiring of Michel on Wednesday.

Get French Football translated the Ligue 1 side's announcement, adding that the new manager agreed to a two-year deal. 

Michel's hiring came after the shock resignation of former coach Marcelo Bielsa on Aug. 8. Bielsa stepped down minutes after the club's defeat to Caen, leading Marseille to release a statement condemning the decision, per Goal.com's Mark Doyle: "OM can in no way be a prisoner to someone who places his personal interests well above those of the club."

A day later, Spanish newspaper AS relayed a survey carried out by French newspaper L'Equipe, in which Zidane finished third behind Jurgen Klopp and Eric Gerets in a poll designed to determine the readers' favourites for the job.

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press/Associated Press

Ex-Real Madrid superstar Zidane never represented his hometown club despite being born in the suburb of La Castellane, and AS noted he "has often commented on his regret for never having played for OM."

Zidane remained in Marseille until the age of 14, when he was first scouted by Cannes, one of the two Ligue outfits he would go on to represent, along with Bordeaux.

The 43-year-old has worked under respected tacticians Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez since joining the Bernabeu coaching staff, but it seems the Marseille job vacancy arrived too soon.