Ex-Argentina coach Bielsa closes in on Marseille job

Marseille: Former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa moved closer to taking charge at Marseille on Friday as he watched the slumping French giants against Montpellier in Ligue 1.

The 58-year-old Bielsa, who has also coached Chile and Althletic Bilbao in Spain, took his seat 45 minutes before kick-off alongside Manuel Amoros, a former Marseille player, and Diego Reyes, who was his right-hand man at Bilbao. Bielsa is the favourite to succeed Jose Anigo, who took over from Elie Baup in December. Marseille went into Friday`s game in sixth place in the table and 12 points off a Champions League qualifying place. "Everybody is talking about Bielsa. But it has nothing to do with me," said Anigo, who was jeered by Marseille fans last weekend and is due to step down at the end of the season. Bielsa coached Argentina to the 2004 Olympic gold medal and led Athletic Bilbao to the Europa League final in 2012, where they lost 3-0 to Atletico Madrid.