Coro OM: la storia del coro "Era il 26 maggio"

When "It was May 26th" rings out, the entire Vélodrome relives the magical night in Munich. "It was May 26th" commemorates the greatest victory in the club's history: the 1993 Champions League.

Sung on special occasions, this Marseille chant, OM, immortalizes the only victory of a French club in the European Cup. But how did this date become so sacred for all Marseillais? Discover the story of the night OM conquered Europe.

May 26, 1993: The Night of Munich

On May 26, 1993, at Munich's Olympiastadion, Olympique de Marseille faced AC Milan in the Champions League final. Milan were the defending champions and overwhelming favorites . With Baresi, Maldini, Gullit, and Van Basten, they were the Italian Dream Team.

But in the 43rd minute, from a corner, Basile Boli rose and headed home the only goal of the match. 1-0. That would be the final score. OM became the first French club to win the European Cup. A historic, unprecedented feat, unmatched ever since.

"Together we won"

The chant emphasizes "together." It's not "the team won" but "together we won." This wording includes the fans in the victory: there were 40,000 of them in Munich, and they were part of this triumph.

This collective conception of victory is fundamental to Marseille culture. The club doesn't win alone; the people of Marseille win with it. The supporters are not spectators but active participants in history.

Full lyrics to "It Was May 26th"

Listen to "It was May 26th"

"Forever the first"

This statement carries a double meaning. As the first French club to win the European Cup, OM holds a record that no one can ever take away . Even if another French club wins one day, Marseille will remain "forever the first."

This historical primacy is a source of immense pride. In debates with Parisian or Lyonnais supporters, Marseillais brandish Munich as the ultimate argument. You may win championships, but we have Munich.

The VA-OM scandal: the shadow over the light

A few weeks after Munich, the VA-OM affair broke: Valenciennes players were allegedly bribed before the OM-Valenciennes match. The club was administratively relegated to the second division, and the European victory was tarnished .

But for the fans, Munich remains sacred. They mentally separate the two events: the scandal concerns the French league, not the European Cup. Munich is pure, untouchable, eternal. No scandal can erase that night.

Basile Boli's goal

43rd minute. Corner on the left. Abedi Pelé crosses. And Basile Boli, the center-back, appears at the near post and heads the ball into Sebastiano Rossi's net. 1-0. The goal that goes down in history.

Basile Boli, a discreet player throughout his career, became immortal in a fraction of a second. That single goal made him an eternal legend of French football. His name will forever be linked to Munich.

The 40,000 people from Marseille in Munich

The achievement wouldn't have been the same without the epic journey of the 40,000 fans who descended upon Munich. Buses, trains, planes: an entire city mobilized to experience this historic moment.

In the streets of Munich before the match, in the stadium for 90 minutes, and all night after the victory: Marseille fans transformed the Bavarian capital into an extension of the Canebière. This massive mobilization is an integral part of the legend.

A date that shapes Marseille's identity

For someone from Marseille, "May 26th" doesn't require any specific year. It's THE May 26th , the founding event of the club's modern identity. Before Munich and after Munich: two distinct eras.

Children born after 1993 grow up with the Munich story passed down by their parents. The date becomes a family temporal marker: "You were born 5 years after Munich," "It was 10 years before Munich." It structures collective memory.

The impact of Munich on subsequent generations

Munich was a blessing but also a burden. Every Marseille team since has been judged by the standard of 1993. The players hear, "You have to do Munich again." This constant expectation creates enormous pressure.

But this pressure also reflects Marseille's ambition: never to be content with the national level, always aiming for Europe, always dreaming of a new Munich. This is the demanding legacy of that magical night.

FAQ – It was May 26th

What happened on May 26, 1993?

On May 26, 1993, Olympique de Marseille (OM) defeated AC Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final in Munich. Basile Boli scored the only goal in the 43rd minute. OM became the first and only French club to win the European Cup. 40,000 Marseille fans flocked to Munich to witness this historic achievement.

Why "together we won"?

This wording includes the fans in the victory. It's not "the team won" but "together." The 40,000 Marseille supporters present in Munich are an integral part of this triumph. This collective conception of victory is fundamental to Marseille culture.

What does "forever the first" mean?

Olympique de Marseille (OM) is the first French club to win the European Cup. Even if another French club wins it one day, Marseille will forever remain the first. This historic first is a source of immense pride and a record that no one can ever take away.

How does Munich shape Marseilles identity?

For someone from Marseille, "May 26th" needs no further explanation. It's the defining event that separates two eras: before Munich and after Munich. The date shapes collective and family memory. But it's also a burden: each generation hears, "You have to rebuild Munich for us."