Villas-Boas' Marseille future uncertain after sporting director leaves

Andre Villas-Boas' future as Marseille manager is in doubt after the club confirmed the departure of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Thursday.

Zubizarreta left by mutual agreement after four years with the French giants. In the statement that marked his exit, the former goalkeeper noted that Villas-Boas had become "a true friend."

Now, it remains to be seen whether Villas-Boas will follow his right-hand man out the door.

Before leaving, Zubizarreta still had a year on his contract, but the hiring of Paul Aldridge as a "special advisor" in January was widely viewed as an encroachment on his duties. The Marseille boardroom change prompted words of support from Villas-Boas.

"I came here, one, due the size of the club, and, two, for Andoni Zubizarreta. I have already said that my future is intimately linked to his future," Villas-Boas said in January, as quoted by Agence France-Presse.

Villas-Boas, who's also overseen Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, has been rebuilding his coaching reputation on the Mediterranean coast since his appointment in May 2019. Marseille ranked second in Ligue 1 at the premature end to the 2019-20 term - the club's highest finish since the 2012-13 campaign - and were regularly praised for their energetic style of play during the season.