The 2006-07 campaign delivered a vital revival for Olympique Marseille as OM surged to a spectacular 2nd-place finish in Ligue 1, their best in eight years, which secured a coveted spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Leading the charge was the prolific Senegalese forward Mamadou Niang, whose 12 league goals anchored a side full of emerging flair, including Franck Ribéry and the young Samir Nasri. Though the club suffered heartbreak, losing the Coupe de France final on penalties, this season, overseen by manager Albert Emon, definitively marked OM's return to the French elite and remains a defining chapter in the club's modern history.