Nigeria, Feb. 19 -- Marseille have appointed former captain Habib Beye as head coach, the club confirmed on Wednesday, just over a week after he was sacked by Ligue 1 rivals Rennes.

The move ends lingering speculation that Beye's ex-colleague on the pitch, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, could have landed the coveted Marseille job.

Had Chelle been chosen, it would have created a dilemma for Nigeria and the NFF, potentially forcing the national team to lose its coach mid-campaign.

Instead, the opportunity goes to Beye, 48, who now takes the reins following Roberto De Zerbi's departure after a crushing 5-0 loss to rivals Paris Saint-Germain.

Beye inherits a Marseille side currently fourth in Ligue 1 with 12 games left; five points behin...