Olivier Pantaloni appointed Nice head coach on two-year deal as Ineos era continues | OneFootball

Nice have appointed Olivier Pantaloni on a two-year deal, completing the club’s reshaped leadership for its new project. According to L'Équipe, the decision followed the collapse of talks with potential buyers, meaning Ineos will steer next season. The coaching search then accelerated and concluded on Wednesday with the 59-year-old’s signature.

The succession to Claude Puel had looked settled for days. On Wednesday, Nice confirmed the end of their six-month arrangement with the 64-year-old, then turned to the Corsican coach, who had just left Lorient at the end of his contract.

Courted by Lens, who chose the German Dino Toppmöller, and by the Qatar-owned Belgian club Eupen, Pantaloni instead committed to Nice. He met Maurice Cohen, back as president in place of Jean-Pierre Rivère, and Ineos Sport president Jean-Claude Blanc. Future sporting director Geoffrey Moncada, still contracted to AC Milan, was absent.

Nice long considered Alexandre Dujeux, Pantaloni’s former AC Ajaccio assistant from 2015 to 2021, until the ex-Angers coach opted for Lorient. Christophe Pélissier was also studied, along with international options such as Toppmöller, who chose Lens and the Champions League, and Liam Rosenior, who wanted a break after a short Chelsea stint. The hierarchy ultimately preferred a French coach.

The club required someone ready to operate amid a drastic reduction in the wage bill. Pantaloni knows Nice, having completed his playing development there from 1985 to 1988. Squad building now comes into focus, while the make-up of his backroom staff was still undecided on Wednesday.

Source: L'Équipe