Sweet and Tender Hooligan

After a somewhat tumultuous career in the English Premier League, Midfielder Joey Barton was taken on loan by Olympique De Marseille in the Summer of 2012.

Growing up in the Huyton area of Liverpool, Barton had a familiarity with the tough neighbourhoods of a working class and Football obsessed Port City. His tough background, direct talking and sometimes aggressive nature made him a potentially good fit for a fan base renowned for passionate ferocity in a City with an entrenched rebelliousness against a Parisian Government.

The 30 year old was contracted to Queen’s Park Rangers where he’d spent an eventful 2011/12 season battling relegation. QPR stayed up on the final day but an altercation with several Manchester City players culminated in a red card, £75,000 fine and a lengthy ban. That and a fallout with Manager Mark Hughes made a change of Clubs the best outcome for all parties.

After positive discussions with Club President Vincent Labrune and Sporting Director Jose Anigo in London an agreement was made with QPR agreeing to pay some of the wages. The Englishman gives a sense of the openness of his Conversation with the French delegates in his autobiography “No nonsense”. “I think the depth of my knowledge of French football surprised them and I had given prior thought to how I could best suit the team, as a deep lying midfielder. We discussed the politics of the far right, but only after I’d reassured them that rumours I had a racist tattoo were unfounded.”

Barton arrived at Marseille with the Club having enjoyed their best two Seasons in years. Under the Management of Club Legend Didier Deschamps, L’OM had won the Ligue 1 championship and the Coupe De La Ligue in 2011 followed by another Coupe De La Ligue win in 2012. This success was followed by major changes with Coaching and playing staff. Deschamps left to become the Coach of the French National team whilst several senior players including Captain Cesar Azpilicueta, left for the English Premier League. Joey Barton was one of six budget signings that joined new Manager Elie Baup. Baup was a well respected Coach in Ligue 1 but didn’t carry the aura, renown or ability to attract players of his serial winning predecessor. It was a pragmatic but uninspiring summer which left little hope for another trophy winning season. Added to that the Englishman’s start to the 2012/13 season was hindered by his 12 match Premier League ban being carried over to French Football. The decision being upheld by the governing body “Ligue de Football Professionnel.” Despite this Marseille fans took an instant liking to the Scouser and welcomed him immediately. At the first home game following his transfer Barton was shocked to look up from the Stand and see a banner dedicated to him “Welcome Sweet and Tender Hooligan”.

Les Marseillais had done their homework and discovered their new signings love of “The Smiths”. The banner highlighted a song from his favourite band whilst acknowledging the Players violent history on and off the pitch. Barton appreciated this and has been keen to acknowledge the honour in later interviews. During an in depth conversation on James English’s “Anything Goes” Podcast he explained “I just thought these are fucking crackers.. these are just having me and I haven’t even kicked a ball.”

Although the ban meant no League games for almost three full months the Midfielder was eligible to play in the Europa League. His debut came at Fenerbache on on the 20th September. Playing in a deeper midfield role than he had in England, Barton put in a decent enough performance to impress his new Coach. Baup was quoted in “Ouest France” with positive comments “He integrated well into the group dynamic. He tried to be as clean as possible in his play and with his passes; the fundamental idea of our players is to lose possession as little as possible and he succeeded.” The performance furthered his reputation with fans after a sprint and well timed tackle stopped Cristian from scoring.

Four European games followed with Baup starting his combative midfielder in each. The third of these matches came with a first goal for the Club in front of his home fans. He swung in a corner with such precision it went straight in past the Borussia Munchengladbach Keeper. There was an element of luck but Barton was showing he had technique and was far from just a hatchet man. The celebration with teammates and Coach showed how happy he was at the Club and the togetherness he felt within the squad.

He’d clearly won over his teammates and Coaching staff. In an interview with “Le Monde” centre back Nicola Nkoulou stated the following regarding his Scouse colleague. “On the field as well as in the changing room, the image of the guy who throws punches and does whatever he wants is completely false”.

In the same Le Monde article a quote from L’OMs Operations Director reflected how Barton’s popularity with fans helped the Club’s finances “Upon his arrival, Barton generated a lot of excitement among the fans. For a few weeks, his name was featured on the jersey’s, even though today, it’s Valbuena’s name that sells the most OM jerseys.”

Finally on the 25th November the Englishman made his Ligue 1 debut at the Stade Velodrome. Baup again trusted him enough to put him in the starting eleven against Lille. Barton’s eagerness to make a mark was a little too apparent when an overzealous challenge saw him booked after just 22 minutes. He managed to keep his head with another solid performance that led to a 1-0 win. Unfortunately for the Midfielder his performance would be largely forgotten outside of Marseille due to his press conference the following day. Going on to meet the press the Englishman was asked by the interpreter to tone down his Scouse dialect to make interpreting easier. Barton did exactly that and more by answering questions in a French accent.

The French journalists and interpreter appreciated this but Barton’s brother and friend at the back of the room were in hysterics. The video of this “Allo Allo” moment went viral and would haunt the player for the rest of his career. It’s difficult to find any other information regarding Joey Barton’s time in Provence on UK search platforms. The misjudged accent seems to be all that’s mentioned whereas in France the focus on the Liverpudlian is his spark on the pitch, his professionalism in training and effort with the fans. The latter in particular is often highlighted by Marseille Supporters. You can see in clips of training his willingness to interact with the fan base and he was to gain an in depth understanding of the different supporters groups. He specifies this in his autobiography “The ultras are powerful lobbyists, with individual identifies and tribal loyalties. The club’s third kit is often in their colours - red, yellow and green in the case of the Velodrome’s North Curve, which houses Marseille Trop Puissant, Yankee Nord Marseille, the Fanatics and the Dodgers. A hard core known as Virage Nord are agents provacateurs, close to the away enclosure. Similarly, the influence of the South Curve ultras was recognised by the introduction of an orange change kit. That end of the ground is occupied by Commando Ultras 1984, the South Winners, Amis de L’OM and Club Central des Supporteurs. The groups are left wing politically, to a greater or lesser degree, and traditionally have the right to ask players to attend their functions.” How many Foreign players ever bother to understand their club this well especially when on loan? Away from the scrutiny of the UK press and in an environment where he felt comfortable and welcome he courted controversy much less. He seemed relaxed and affable with the press. Searching on French internet platforms you can watch press conferences where he talks calmly, humorously and knowledgeably about upcoming games.

Of course there was bound to be some contentious moments but they were confined to the pitch and were more defiant than shocking. In games against fierce rivals PSG Barton went right through Marquee signing David Beckham, called Thiago Silva an overweight Ladyboy and baited star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Whilst assisting his defence at corners Barton affected being fouled by the giant Swede which the latter took exemption too. Barton would later eloquently recall on the “Anything goes” podcast “I was going, “you might be boss at footy but your nose is fucking massive”. French TV picked up on this incident and fans across the Country l, particularly Les Marseillais, were amused, even enamored with Barton’s audacious insults against Ligue 1’s star man.

Marseille lost each of these games but the fact that their team refused to back down to a vastly superior team and showed some fight was appreciated.

That season Olympique De Marseille finished 2nd in Ligue 1. An impressive achievement given the thinness of squad and difference in budgets between OM and the Qatari owned Champions PSG. Barton scored just once with three assists in the whole campaign but he gave a much needed snap and industry to the midfield. He covered his back four well and was an integral part of the team. There was no doubt he wanted to stay and had no desire to return to a freshly relegated QPR. Marseille were keen to keep him too. As early as April Communications Director Luc Laboz had stated “Both parties are very much in favour of this outcome but positive discussion have only just begun. Given everything he’s contributed to the club, we’re very attached to Joey.” Unfortunately QPR weren’t willing to drop the asking price and “Mister Joe”’s time in Provence was over.

In a stat obsessed World it’s easy to dismiss a Footballer’s contribution to a season, team or Club. Football should not be judged solely on stats and trophies. Joey Barton gave Marseille supporters some pride in a non trophy winning side and built a rapport with the Club and City rarely achieved in a single season.

His love affair with the Club has continued. In September 2022 Joey Barton joined the Marseille Ultras for Marseille’s away game at Tottenham. He met them in a pub near the ground then stood with them throughout the match. Unsurprisingly he reacted to some stick from the home fans by sticking his middle finger at them.

There have been many shocking moments in Joey Barton’s life on and off the pitch. The season spent in Marseille saw very few of these and it’s interesting to wonder how things may have gone for him had he stayed longer.