I have a question here. Since Marseille is one of France's oldest clubs and since they have always been France's biggest, richest, and best supported club why then did they not have European success until the 1990's ? Why did it take so long ? Smaller clubs like Reims, St. Etienne, Bastia had European success long before OM did. By success I mean Cup or Cup final. Marseille have 4 European finals appearence but none before the 1990's. If they were always France's most supported club and richest why did they not do better in Europe before the 1990's and why did those other French do better than them pre 90's.
I don't think they have always been the best supported team in France. Now they are, but it's because of their performance in the early 90's. Before that I think the most supported was probably St-Etienne.
j-b is right. btw, OL won the intertoto in 1997, OM may be able to add that to their palmarès this summer!