Birth and the first trophies

IT ALL BEGINS IN 1899.

Olympique de Marseille, a descendant of the Football Club de Marseille -- which was created two years earlier -- was founded on 31 August 1899 by Réné Dufaure de Montmirail. The club's official kit was a white jersey marked with two blue letters "O" and "M" interlaced and black shorts. The motto of the club is “Droit au But,” translated as"Right to the Goal." But it was a year later, in January 1900, that the history of football at Olympique de Marseille truly began. OM played their first match, a friendly against Union Sportive Phocéenne, eventually losing 4-0.

Olympique de Marseille prevailed on the local level by winning the Coastal Championship of in 1908. The OM, which was promoted to the the Huveaune from 1902 to 1937, emerged on the national level several years later. The Marseillais competed in the USFSA (Union of French athletic societies) championship final in 1919, but fell against Le Havre (4-1). From there, Marseille began to build a reputation beyond Bouches-du-Rhônes.

In 1919, the FFFA (French Football Association) was created and football attracted more and more the public attention through the 1920s. OM entered the big leagues by recruiting two Parisians in 1923: Jean Boyer and Edouard Crut . They were two excellent players at the time. OM won its first Coupe de France in 1924 -- 25 years after the club's creation -- winning 3-2 in the final against FC Cette after extra time. OM is the first provincial club to win the Cup. History was made in a period that typically saw only the Parisian clubs dominate French football!

In 1919, the FFFA (French Football Association) was created and football attracted more and more the public attention through the 1920s. OM entered the big leagues by recruiting two Parisians in 1923: Jean Boyer and Edouard Crut . They were two excellent players at the time. OM won its first Coupe de France in 1924 -- 25 years after the club's creation -- winning 3-2 in the final against FC Cette after extra time. OM is the first provincial club to win the Cup. History was made in a period that typically saw only the Parisian clubs dominate French football!

"DROIT AU BUT"

The year 1932 marked a turning point for Marseille and more generally for football in France. French football became a professional sport and was no longer amateur. OM played its first professional match on Sunday, September 11, 1932, a Marseille victory over Lille thanks to a brace by Alcazar (2-1).

The Provencal club stood out with four other clubs during this decade: Racing Club de Paris, Sète Football Club, Lille and the Sochaux Football Club. Les Olympiens continued their rise to power, winning their fourth Coupe de France on May 5, 1935 against Rennes (3-0).

After winning its first Cups, Olympique de Marseille enjoyed its first "professional" trophy as champion of France in 1937, winning on the last matchday of the season against Sochaux at the Stade de l'Huveaune. It was a Stade de l'Huveaune that would no longer host Olympique de Marseille with a new ground being was built in June 1937. The new stadium, "Stade Vélodrome," was more in-line with the expectations and craze of the Marseille supporters.

In 1938, OM won its fifth Coupe de France against FC Metz (2-1 a.p), making the Marseille club the winningest side in the competition. OM was beginning to write its legend ...