When OM strike gold with experienced signings
With the return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now 36, this summer, Olympique de Marseille have once again shown their knack for identifying experienced players who can still deliver in Ligue 1 Uber Eats. In recent years alone, the club has brought in Jordan Veretout (aged 29 after five seasons in Serie A), Geoffrey Kondogbia (signed shortly after his 30th birthday), and Adrien Rabiot (who returned to Ligue 1 aged 29 last September after six years away).
And OM’s track record with players well past 30 is particularly impressive.
The oldest Marseille signings of the 21st century
36: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
35: Patrice Evra, Sylvain Wiltord
34: Bixente Lizarazu, George Weah, Rod Fanni, Andreas Köpke, Cyril Rool
33: Alexis Sanchez, Frank Leboeuf, Sabri Lamouchi, Yuto Nagatomo, Fernando Morientes
32: Geronimo Rulli, Steve Mandanda, Yohan Pelé, Henri Bedimo, Mickaël Pagis, Jérôme Bonnissel, Fabien Barthez, Dimas
31: Adil Rami, Gennaro Bracigliano, Djimi Traoré, Gabriel Heinze, Edouard Cissé, Frédéric Déhu, Klas Ingesson
The 1980s: Giresse and Allofs lay the groundwork
This strategy isn’t new. When Bernard Tapie took control in 1986, OM deliberately turned to seasoned professionals. Alain Giresse, just shy of 34, left Bordeaux for one final challenge at Marseille. A year later, Klaus Allofs (31) arrived to mentor a young Jean-Pierre Papin, helping him grow from 13 to 19 goals in a season that ended with OM reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup.
The 1990s: A German touch of experience
While signings like Carlos Mozer and Chris Waddle were just under 30 in 1989, Rudi Völler was the first true veteran to join that OM era. A World Cup winner and Bundesliga top scorer, he arrived from Roma aged 32 and led the attack after Papin's departure to AC Milan. His impact? 22 goals in all competitions and a UEFA Champions League title in 1993.
That decade also saw the return of Manu Amoros (33), who helped OM back to the top flight, and the arrival of Tony Cascarino (32), whose 31 and 30 goals in two seasons were the most prolific of his career.
In 1995, Michel De Wolf became another experienced recruit in OM’s promotion-winning side – the Belgian left-back played his final season at 36.
Back in Ligue 1, OM signed Andreas Köpke, fresh off a cancelled move to Barcelona. The 34-year-old Germany No.1, then considered the world’s best goalkeeper, made the switch to Marseille in 1996.
OM then landed Laurent Blanc, 31, from Barcelona. The soon-to-be World Cup winner was pivotal in OM's second-place finish and UEFA Cup final run, becoming a cult hero at the Vélodrome – not least for the famous comeback against Montpellier (from 0-4 to 5-4) in 1998.
The 2000s: Leboeuf follows Blanc’s lead
The early 2000s saw a number of veterans sign during a turbulent period, including Zoumana Camara, Klas Ingesson, and a 34-year-old George Weah.
But the standout was Frank Leboeuf. Signed aged 32 after five seasons at Chelsea, the World Cup winner brought much-needed stability, helping OM to a podium finish in 2002/03.
In the 2005/06 season, Jean Fernandez reunited Mickaël Pagis (32) with Mamadou Niang, forming a clinical duo that reached back-to-back Coupe de France finals. That same year, Sabri Lamouchi also added Italian experience to OM’s midfield.
The 2010s: Deschamps’ title-winning veterans
The 2009/10 title-winning side under Didier Deschamps was packed with thirty-somethings. Gabriel Heinze, Edouard Cissé, Fabrice Abriel, Souleymane Diawara, and Cyril Rool were the backbone of a squad that ended an 18-year wait for the Ligue 1 crown.
Veteran success stories continued with Lassana Diarra, who made a stunning Ligue 1 comeback at 30, and Bafétimbi Gomis, who scored a career-best 20 league goals at 30.
In 2017, Marseille brought back another seasoned French international: Adil Rami. At nearly 32 and with six years in La Liga and Serie A behind him, Rami became a mainstay for Rudi Garcia, making over 50 appearances in his first season, including 14 en route to the Europa League final.
PEA and Alexis: Veteran star power
Before his successful first stint at OM, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (then 34) helped the club to a European final, just as Alexis Sanchez had done the previous season. The Chilean, 33 at the time of his arrival, scored 14 Ligue 1 goals in 2022/23 and played a key leadership role under Igor Tudor, leading Marseille to a third podium finish in four years.
With such a long list of experienced players making a real difference at OM, Aubameyang’s return at 36 could be another smart piece of business. His 100 European appearances and 51 goals in UEFA competitions are expected to be vital as Marseille prepare for their return to the Champions League.
