OM: "The best French manager right now", Petit praises Genesio after Marseille's revival

Emmanuel Petit praised Genesio as France's best current manager, highlighting his ability to stabilize Marseille despite financial constraints and a 1-0 Europa League win at Leverkusen.

Emmanuel Petit, the 1998 World Cup winner, has hailed Bruno Genesio as the best French manager currently working. Speaking on RMC's "Rothen s'enflamme" show, Petit emphasized Genesio's track record of rescuing troubled clubs—Lyon, Rennes, and Lille all qualified for the Champions League under him—and his latest achievement at Marseille.

Genesio arrived at Marseille in June 2026 from Lille on a free transfer into a dire situation: the club faced mandatory player sales, had no transfer budget, and was plagued by injuries. Despite this chaos, Petit credited the manager with restoring calm and confidence to a fractured squad. "He kept his composure and transmitted it to his players," Petit said. "He gave chances to young players, revitalized the group, and brought back players who were sidelined." Petit also noted Genesio's success in managing the intense, volatile Marseille environment.

Marseille's 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Europa League, sealed by an Amine Gouiri goal, further impressed Petit, who praised their compact, organized defensive shape against a seasoned European competitor. Petit's only concern was whether Genesio's thin squad depth would sustain the momentum.