A new Nice guy: Olivier Pantaloni's Aiglons shake off last season
After a fine season with FC Lorient last year, could Olivier Pantaloni write another surprise story with OGC Nice in the upcoming Ligue 1 McDonald's campaign?
Righting a listing ship
To say life at OGC Nice has been a challenge of late would be an understatement. After a massive achievement by Franck Haise in his first season with the club, 2024/25 to guide the club to a fourth place finish and a spot in Champions League qualifying, last season was the opposite. Long-term injuries and a clash with fans left the club without key players like Terem Moffi, Jérémie Boga, Morgan Sanson and an entire back four worth of defenders.
Moreover, the club's transfer strategy looked to be a poor one -- of all of Les Aiglons' arrivals, only loanees Elye Wahi and Juma Bah performed at a consistent level, with even Yehvann Diouf displaying a lower level of play compared to his time at Reims. After the sacking of Haise last December, Claude Puel barely kept the club in the top flight, edging Saint-Étienne in the playoff, but he was replaced by another veteran manager, Olivier Pantaloni.
Victoire 3-0 face à l’OM pour ce 2e match de préparation 👊#omogcn pic.twitter.com/DfRs5UlxkU
— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) July 25, 2026
A familiar name with surprising results
Pantaloni is a name who has been on the French footballing scene for a long time, and is best known for his fine work with Corsican side AC Ajaccio, keeping them in Ligue 1 for three seasons against the odds. However, after his surprise appointment at Lorient, he seemed to have turned a corner, displaying an impressive regard for attractive, attacking football as Les Merlus reeled off a 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions, inserting themselves into the conversation for the European places despite a squad lacking in notable names prior to the season.
Now in charge at Nice, there are signs emerging that he can build on the strong work he did in Brittany on the Côte d'Azur. While the current summer has seen no major incomings save veteran midfielder Laurent Abergel, there is plenty to work with for Pantaloni provided the team's fitness is improved: Moise Bombito and Youssouf Ndayishimiye will add solidity to the back line, while Sofiane Diop and Mohamed Ali-Cho are a fine pair of wide attackers. A solution still needs to be found at centre forward, but young Nigerian striker Victor Orakpo looks eager to build on his time on loan last season.
Potential is one thing, but results are another, and Nice have been impressive in their two friendlies to date, beating Nîmes 4-0 before thumping rivals Marseille 3-0. Playing in a front-foot 3-4-3 (not unlike the formation Haise used to great effect two seasons ago), they have looked irresistible while maintaining their solidity, even without key defenders like Bombito and Kojo Peprah Oppong, who have only just returned from their international breaks. It's true that two friendlies don't make a season (and Friday's clash with Juventus will be a sterner test), but the early signs are bright indeed at the Allianz Riviera.
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