Marseille lights 21 kilometers of smoke to celebrate their 1993 Champions League crowning

The Cup with big ears on the Old Port, like 30 years ago: Marseille proudly celebrated, on Friday 26 May, the 30th anniversary of their victory in the Champions League with a big party that brought together fans and players of the time.

“Thanks to the people of Marseille, I love you!”, launched Basile Boli, scorer and hero of the Munich final against Milan, installed on the balcony of the Town Hall. Below, a few thousand OM supporters had gathered in a stadium-like atmosphere, smoke bombs lit and chanted chants to a “boss” signal from the Southern Victors, OM’s main group of supporters.

“On the evening of May 26th I watched the final and the day after we came here to celebrate the title. We threw ourselves into the Porto Vecchio with friends, colleagues, family. This is what it means to us“said Rémi, 39, like a huge tarp “Forever First” it was unveiled on the facade of the town hall.

From the place, where the actors of the time and those of the OM of today met, Laurent Tapie, the son of the “Boss” still idolized by the vast majority of Marseille fans despite the VA-OM corruption case following the coronation of Monaco then announced the launch of a subscription for the creation of a statue in the likeness of his father. It will represent the former OM president and six successful C1 players (Deschamps, Boli, Di Meco, Desailly, Barthez and Sauzée) and will be installed in front of the Vélodrome, an esplanade which will now bear the name of Bernard Tapie.

The coast all in red

“There will be something in Marseille that bears his name and that is not insignificant. Staying next to the Stade Vélodrome for eternity, nothing could have made him happier“said Laurent Tapie, while the esplanade of the fence will be renamed in honor of the former president of the club. On the balcony, the mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan first greeted the fans, without whom”there is no OM“, then the 1993 players.”They are there to remind us of one thing: whatever happens, we are always the first!“, he threw.

Then the party continued with the replay of the Munich final on the big screen. And continued at 11pm, with a massive lighting of smoke bombs organized by groups of fans over more than 20 kilometers along the Marseille coast.

On Saturday, before the OM-Brest match at the Vélodrome, a giant cheer will be deployed on the four stands of the stadium for a final tribute to the evening of May 26, 1993.