Olivier Pantaloni appointed OGC Nice coach, Claude Puel departs
OGC Nice has appointed Olivier Pantaloni as head coach on a two-year contract, replacing Claude Puel, who left after securing the club’s Ligue 1 survival via playoffs. Pantaloni, formerly of Lorient, is expected to develop young players and reduce the wage bill. The club also announced Maurice Cohen’s return as president, replacing Jean-Pierre Rivère, as part of a leadership restructuring following a difficult season.
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OGC Nice Appoints Olivier Pantaloni as Head Coach Amid Ineos Continuity
OGC Nice has appointed Olivier Pantaloni as head coach on a two-year contract, succeeding Claude Puel. The decision follows the failure of negotiations with potential buyers, confirming that Ineos will retain control of the club for the upcoming season. Pantaloni, 59, previously coached Lorient and AC Ajaccio, and was also courted by Lens and Eupen. The club's leadership has shifted with Maurice Cohen as president and Jean-Claude Blanc as Ineos Sport president. Nice chose a French coach to manage a significant reduction in the wage bill. The club now moves to squad building, with assistant staff yet to be finalized. Sporting director Geoffrey Moncada remains contractually tied to AC Milan.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuSir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS-backed OGC Nice appoints Olivier Pantaloni as manager on two-year deal
OGC Nice, the Ligue 1 club under INEOS ownership linked to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has officially appointed Olivier Pantaloni as their new first-team manager on a two-year contract. The move follows a turbulent season where Nice narrowly avoided relegation via a play-off victory over AS Saint-Etienne. Interim manager Claude Puel has left the club after his contract expired. Pantaloni arrives from FC Lorient, where he had two solid Ligue 1 campaigns before leaving due to trust issues with the club hierarchy. The new manager expressed pride and determination to restore Nice to former glory, emphasizing values of humility, hard work, and ambition. The appointment signals another reset for the club as it seeks stability under INEOS-linked ownership. Meanwhile, at Manchester United, attention remains on squad development under Michael Carrick.
Yardbarker: SoccerOlivier Pantaloni Appointed New Coach of OGC Nice
OGC Nice has officially appointed Olivier Pantaloni as their new head coach, signing a two-year contract. Pantaloni, who left Lorient after finishing 10th in Ligue 1, replaces Claude Puel, who was dismissed after a difficult 2025-2026 season that saw Nice narrowly avoid relegation. The French manager had been linked with several clubs including Toulouse, Lens, and Nantes before choosing Nice. Club director Maurice Cohen emphasized the ambition to build a solid, coherent, and sustainable project, while Pantaloni stated he approaches the role with humility and determination to restore the club's colors.
Mercato 2025 : l'actu des transferts footOlivier Pantaloni Appointed New Coach of OGC Nice
OGC Nice has officially appointed Olivier Pantaloni as their new head coach on a two-year contract, following the dismissal of Claude Puel. Pantaloni, who left Lorient after finishing 10th in Ligue 1, was linked with several clubs including Toulouse, Lens, and Nantes before choosing Nice. He steps in after Nice narrowly avoided relegation in the 2025-2026 season. Club director Maurice Cohen emphasized the ambition to build a 'solid, coherent, and sustainable project,' while Pantaloni stated he comes 'with great humility but also great determination' to restore the club's colors. The appointment marks the start of a new era for the Aiglons.
Mercato 2025 : l'actu des transferts footOlivier Pantaloni Appointed New Coach of OGC Nice
OGC Nice has officially appointed Olivier Pantaloni as their new head coach on a two-year contract, replacing Claude Puel who was dismissed after a difficult 2025-2026 season. Pantaloni, who left Lorient after finishing 10th in Ligue 1, was linked with several clubs including Toulouse, Lens, and Nantes before choosing Nice. The club's directors, particularly Maurice Cohen, aim to build a solid, coherent, and sustainable project under Pantaloni. The new coach expressed humility and determination to restore the club's colors and launch a new cycle for the Aiglons.
Mercato 2025 : l'actu des transferts footOlivier Pantaloni Appointed New Head Coach of OGC Nice
OGC Nice has officially appointed Olivier Pantaloni as their new head coach, replacing Claude Puel who departed earlier on June 17, 2026. The 60-year-old Corsican coach signed a two-season contract. Pantaloni, a former Nice midfielder who played for the club from 1985 to 1988, returns to the city after successful stints at AC Ajaccio and Lorient, where he won the Ligue 2 championship and kept Lorient in Ligue 1. He was chosen over candidates like Liam Rosenior, Christophe Pélissier, and Sébastien Pocognoli. Pantaloni faces a challenging task as Nice comes off a difficult season marked by tensions between players and fans, and a narrow escape from relegation via a playoff against AS Saint-Etienne. Shareholder INEOS is also reportedly absent from day-to-day operations.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertSir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS Part Ways with OGC Nice Head Coach Claude Puel
Manchester United's ownership group INEOS has officially parted ways with OGC Nice head coach Claude Puel ahead of the 2026/27 season. Puel was brought in during a crisis in December to replace Franck Haise and successfully guided the club to Ligue 1 safety on the final day with a 4-1 victory over AS Saint-Etienne. However, his contract has expired and will not be renewed. The club also confirmed stability at board level, with Maurice Cohen remaining as president and Jean-Pierre Rivere moving to head the OGC Nice endowment fund. INEOS and Nice expressed gratitude for Puel's role in avoiding relegation. The coaching change comes amid wider uncertainty around Nice's ownership, as American investors recently withdrew from a proposed deal.
Yardbarker: SoccerOGC Nice Announces Leadership Changes: Puel Out, Cohen Returns as President
OGC Nice has officially announced a major restructuring of its leadership following a challenging 2025-2026 season that ended with survival secured through playoffs against Saint-Étienne. Coach Claude Puel, who arrived mid-season to replace Franck Haise and helped save the club from relegation, will not continue. He is expected to be replaced by former Lorient coach Olivier Pantaloni on a two-year contract. Additionally, Maurice Cohen returns to the presidency, a role he held from 2002 to 2009, succeeding Jean-Pierre Rivère, who will retain only the presidency of the Endowment Fund. The club cited Cohen's experience and deep knowledge of the club as reasons for his return, aiming to open a new cycle based on stability, coherence, and rigor after a season that did not meet expectations.
Mercato 2025 : l'actu des transferts footOGC Nice Announces Leadership Changes: Puel Out, Cohen Returns as President
OGC Nice has officially announced a major organizational reshuffle following the 2025-2026 season, which ended with the club securing survival through a playoff victory against Saint-Étienne. Coach Claude Puel, who joined mid-season to replace Franck Haise and successfully kept the team in Ligue 1, will leave his position. He is expected to be replaced by former Lorient coach Olivier Pantaloni on a two-year contract. Additionally, Maurice Cohen returns as club president, a role he previously held from 2002 to 2009, succeeding Jean-Pierre Rivère, who will now chair the Endowment Fund. The club stated it took time to analyze its situation after a season that 'did not meet expectations' and aims to begin 'a new cycle based on stability, coherence, and high standards.'
Mercato 2025 : l'actu des transferts footOGC Nice Announces Leadership Overhaul: Puel Out, Cohen Returns as President
OGC Nice has announced a major restructuring of its leadership following a challenging 2025-2026 season that ended with the club narrowly avoiding relegation through a playoff victory against Saint-Étienne. Coach Claude Puel, who joined mid-season to replace Franck Haise and successfully secured the team's Ligue 1 status, will leave his position. He is expected to be succeeded by former Lorient coach Olivier Pantaloni, who will sign a two-year contract. In a parallel change at the executive level, Maurice Cohen returns to the presidency, a role he previously held from 2002 to 2009, replacing Jean-Pierre Rivère. Rivère will retain the presidency of the club's Endowment Fund. The club stated that after a season that 'did not meet expectations,' it took time to analyze the situation and now aims to open 'a new cycle based on stability, coherence, and rigor.'
Mercato 2025 : l'actu des transferts footClaude Puel Leaves OGC Nice After Securing Survival
Claude Puel has left OGC Nice after his contract expired and was not renewed, as confirmed by the club in an official statement on June 17, 2026. The 64-year-old coach was brought in mid-season as a firefighter to replace Franck Haise and successfully secured the club's survival in Ligue 1 through playoffs against ASSE. The club's statement thanked Puel for his professionalism, dedication, and sense of responsibility, noting he helped save the club from relegation during a difficult period. Olivier Pantaloni is the strong favorite to succeed him as head coach.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertOlivier Pantaloni to Sign Two-Year Deal with OGC Nice
Olivier Pantaloni is set to officially become the new head coach of OGC Nice, signing a two-year contract on Wednesday. The former Lorient manager, whose appointment was confirmed by the club's board on Tuesday, has already arrived in Nice. He replaces Claude Puel, who narrowly kept Nice in Ligue 1 via playoffs against Saint-Étienne after taking over from Franck Haise in late December. Pantaloni, who impressed during his interview, is expected to bring only one assistant coach. Existing staff members, including goalkeeping coach Stéphane Cassard and Cédric Varrault, are expected to remain in their roles.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuOGC Nice: Olivier Pantaloni's Arrival as Coach Imminent
According to Foot Mercato and L'Équipe, Olivier Pantaloni is set to become the next head coach of OGC Nice, with an official announcement expected during a board meeting on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Pantaloni, who is free after leaving FC Lorient, has quickly gained internal consensus, especially with management and future sporting director Geoffrey Moncada. Talks are advanced for a two-year contract. His hiring is driven by his track record of achieving results while developing young players, a key aspect of Nice's new policy. At Lorient, he led the team to a 10th-place Ligue 1 finish and helped reveal talents like Arsène Kouassi and Noah Cadiou. Pantaloni is expected to join with only one assistant, while most of the existing staff, including Stéphane Cassard and Cédric Varrault, will remain in place.
Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot TransfertOlivier Pantaloni Set to Become Nice Coach
Olivier Pantaloni, the Corsican coach who recently left Lorient, is expected to be appointed as the new head coach of OGC Nice, barring an unlikely last-minute change. The agreement is anticipated to be finalized during a board of directors meeting on Tuesday morning, with Pantaloni signing a two-year contract. His profile appealed to Nice due to his results—Lorient finished 10th in Ligue 1—and his ability to develop young players, which aligns with the club's strategy to rejuvenate its squad and rely on promising talents. Pantaloni will arrive with only one assistant, while the rest of the staff will consist of existing club members, including goalkeeping coach Stéphane Cassard and Cédric Varrault. He is expected to meet non-international players when preseason begins on July 8. The club also plans to offload high-earning players like Diop, Sanson, Cho, and Boudaoui, with the recruitment unit working under new sporting director Geoffrey Moncada.
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