The news broke yesterday, perhaps not as unexpected as a bolt from the blue, but with a certain surprise effect among the fans, judging by the club’s official forum and the barroom discussions around the local daily announcing the news on its front page.
A few days before the confrontation with the Greens of Saint-Etienne, it is René Marsiglia who takes on the role of coach while his predecessor becomes the new general manager of the red and black club.
It took 62 matches for Eric Roy to be replaced with a balanced record of 17 wins, 24 draws, and 21 losses. Replacing Didier Ollé-Nicolle during the 2009-2011 season, he inherited a more than mediocre situation from the 28th day forward, ultimately leading the eagles to 15th place in the standings. The 2010-2011 season proved more complicated with a 17th place saved on the last day of the championship, while the current season sees OGC Nice in a similar position, stuck in 17th place with only 2 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses.
The shock method was the option chosen by President Rivère before a match already crucial for the people of Nice, under the guise of “a long collective reflection in which Eric Roy participated.” An almost normal internal choice with someone who has been part of the club furniture since 2005, having held positions as recruiter, director of the training center, and finally co-coach alongside Eric Roy.
It remains to be seen whether, on the field side, the Rivère effect will bear fruit, and the test against Saint-Etienne, currently 10th in Ligue 1, will be the first in a long series with, to follow, a trip to Auxerre then receiving Rennes at home. Three matches with a high points value and an appointment the people of Nice cannot miss at the risk of sinking further into the depths of the rankings.
