PARIS: Marcelo Bielsa stunned French football on Saturday when he quit as coach of Olympique Marseille just minutes after his team had lost their Ligue 1 season opener 1-0 at home to Caen.

The former Argentina coach, widely credited for Marseille’s return to prominence last season when he guided the former European champions to fourth place, was out of contract in Marseille but said this week he had an agreement with club president Vincent Labrune to extend his tenure.

Bielsa, who took over in 2014, gave his resignation letter to Labrune before speaking at the post-match news conference.

“I have finished my work here, I will return to my home country,” Bielsa said.

Bielsa, 60, has been linked to the Mexico national team manager’s role in recent weeks, and Marseille looked every inch a side affected by the off-field uncertainty surrounding his future.

Marseille, without top signings Abou Diaby and Lassana Diarra, suffered disappointment despite dominating against Caen, who went ahead when forward Andy Delort’s missile from outside the box beat Steve Mandanda in the 27th minute.

Michy Batshuayi had what he thought was an equaliser ruled out for offside in the 36th as Marseille piled on the pressure but Bielsa’s team missed scores of chances after the interval and were booed off their Stade Velodrome pitch.

Monaco recovered from a goal down to win 2-1 at 10-man Nice as the principality club started their campaign in solid fashion in an ill-tempered game.

Nice were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of halftime when Olivier Boscagli was sent off before Bernardo Silva and Layvin Kurzawa turn things around after Valere Germain’s early opener.

Germain, on loan from Monaco, opened the scoring at Nice’s Stade du Ray, with a close-range half volley after seven minutes, before Nice lost Boscagli in the 45th for a second yellow card.

Stephan El Shaarawy, on loan from AC Milan, was brought on shortly before the break but it was Bernardo Silva who levelled as he coolly slotted home eight minutes into the second half.

Left back Kurzawa’s 64th-minute header then smashed against the bar but the ball bounced back into his path and this time he nodded it into the net.

El Shaarawy came close to scoring but his fine overhead kick was tipped over the bar by Mouez Hanssen.

Promoted Angers began life at the top table with a terrific 2-0 win at 2012 champions Montpellier.

Stephane Moulin’s men, who finished third in Ligue 2 last season to win promotion to the top flight after a 21-year absence, silenced the Stade de la Mosson after five minutes via Abdoul Razzagui Camara’s strike.

Angers doubled their advantage after 79 minutes thanks to a deflected shot from Gilles Sunu.

Gazelec Ajaccio missed a penalty as they were denied victory at fellow promoted club Troyes in the first ever top-flight game.

The visitors, who finished second in Ligue 2 last season 13 points adrift of champions Troyes, should have taken the lead just before half-time but Mohamed Larbi blazed a poor penalty over the bar.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2015

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