Marseille have appointed Jorge Sampaoli as their new coach, the troubled French club's American owner Frank McCourt announced in a statement on Friday. Sampaoli, a much-travelled Argentine, replaces Andre Villas-Boas who was suspended on February 2. McCourt said he wanted to start a "new chapter" and promised "profound changes" at the club, firing president Jacques-Henri Eyraud, who has become a target of fan discontent, and replacing him with sporting director Pablo Longoria. Marseille, second when last season was cut short, are seventh this season, 20 points behind leaders Lille. bur-ama/bpa/dj/pb/dj