The former Gym coach René Marsiglia passed away this Sunday at the age of 57, following a long illness.
The news came in the afternoon, just before the Aiglons’ match in Nancy. René Marsiglia has passed away, a victim of a long illness.
A player for the Gym between 1987 and 1994 – with 86 Division 1 and 84 Division 2 matches with the Aiglons – René returned to the club as the director of training, participating in the restructuring of the training center.
“The man of renewal”
During the 2011-2012 season, he took charge of the first team (replacing Éric Roy) and managed to save the team from relegation to Ligue 2. Notably remembered is an exceptional victory in Lyon (3-4) on the last day, and the fantastic winning goal by Esmaël Gonçalves.
That same year, the Gym won the Gambardella Cup, led by Alexy Bosetti, Mouez Hassen, Fabien Dao Castellana, Jordan Amavi, and Lucas Rougeaux. This served as a symbol for the one who gave new impetus to the training and youth at OGC Nice.
René Marsiglia had also coached Amiens, Cannes, Alès, and Nîmes.
Numerous tributes were immediately made on social media. Many players and personalities shared their thoughts for René Marsiglia. A training center manager, Fred Checconi, even mentioned naming the new center, currently under construction, after him. It would be a fitting tribute.
OGC Nice will pay tribute to him during the next Aiglons’ championship match, against Lorient (Sunday, October 2).
Reactions and Tributes
Lucien Favre: “It’s hard for me to speak on this subject. I only knew him by name, he was sort of a professional colleague, almost the same age as me. He had kept friends on the staff, among the physiotherapists, etc. We were all sad in the locker room. Fred Gioria gave us a very emotional speech. He had visited him the day before yesterday at the hospital. René Marsiglia directly contributed to the current project at OGC Nice. Without what was done at that time, we wouldn’t be here now. Life is sometimes cruel.”
Jean-Pierre Rivère: “When a good person leaves, there is always great sadness. That’s the case today. On the human level, he was one of the best people I have met in football. He impressed me with his kindness. I am very touched, like everyone else.
We must not forget that during our first year at the club, he took over the team and kept it safe. If we are here today, it started with him.
I have already mentioned it, the night after our survival was the worst I have had in football. Because I knew the next day I would have to make the decision to replace René with Claude. He was honest and loyal. I believe he never really held it against me. He understood my decision.
We stayed in touch. We still exchanged a lot recently. Last summer, we had even started considering his reintegration at the club, in other roles, to keep him in the region. We would have liked him to return to the family, even though in spirit, he never stopped being part of it. This certainly adds even more sadness.”.
Frédéric Gioria: “This victory is dedicated to René. If we are all here today, present, it is somewhat thanks to him. If he hadn’t been there to save the club, four years ago, I don’t think we would be here (in Nancy as Ligue 1 leaders, editor’s note). He was part of the project, from the start, that President Rivère and Julien Fournier implemented. He truly contributed to the rejuvenation of this club. I often talked with him, he was very proud of the values this team had because he identified with them. I am proud to have known you as a player, as a coach, and as a man, I will never forget you!”
