Olivier Pantaloni Named Nice Head Coach For 2026-27

Olivier Pantaloni has been confirmed as the new head coach of OGC Nice, taking charge before the 2026-27 Ligue 1 season and tasked with lifting a team that survived last season only through a tense relegation play-off victory against Saint-Etienne.

The 59-year-old returns to Nice after spending three formative years in the club’s youth ranks as a player and now steps in for Claude Puel, with the club’s hierarchy expecting a fresh direction and a more stable top-flight campaign under the experienced coach.

Pantaloni arrives from Lorient, where a two-year spell brought a 10th-place finish in the most recent season, leaving Lorient nine points short of European qualification and showing that Pantaloni could organise a competitive Ligue 1 side on a limited margin.

During that Lorient tenure, Pantaloni took charge of 76 matches in all competitions, winning 39, drawing 17 and losing 20, which produced a win rate of 51.3% and strengthened the coach’s reputation before the move back to Nice.

Reflecting on the appointment, Pantaloni underlined both personal emotion and the scale of the project facing OGC Nice, showing clear awareness of the expectations surrounding a club that has strong traditions and a demanding fanbase in the south of France.

“It’s an immense source of pride for me to manage a club like OGC Nice, Pantaloni told the club’s official website. I am delighted today to be returning to the south of France and to a club I know well, having played here for a time. I arrive in Nice with great humility but also great determination. I want to respect the club. I will instil the values that I hold dear: humility, hard work, respect, determination and ambition. It is up to us to live up to the supporters’expectations and restore OGC Nice to its former glory.”

Pantaloni had also been under consideration to replace Pierre Sage at Lens before that position went to Crystal Palace instead, and Nice’s move for Pantaloni comes as the club prepares for notable summer squad changes following their narrow escape.

Nice have already sanctioned Jeremie Boga’s permanent transfer to Juventus, after the Serie A side chose to turn the winger’s loan spell into a full deal, while midfielder Charles Vanhoutte is reported to be close to a move to Feyenoord, signalling a period of squad reshaping.

Les Aiglons will open their 2026-27 Ligue 1 schedule on the weekend of 22-23 August against Lorient, presenting Pantaloni with an early reunion against his former club and offering a quick measure of how far OGC Nice have progressed under the new coaching staff.

Pantaloni’s mix of familiarity with OGC Nice, proven Ligue 1 experience at Lorient and emphasis on qualities such as discipline and humility gives the club a clear framework as they attempt to stabilise in the top flight and move away from relegation battles in the coming season.