History

There is a very good reason the club is often called Le Gym. When it was founded in 1904, it was the football club of Nice's gymnasts, only adopting the Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice name for itself in 1924. Coupe de France semi-final appearances in 1931 and '32 heralded the club turning professional for the first Ligue 1 campaign of 1932-33.

Nice remain one of France's most decorated clubs, but their four league titles came in a rash in a glorious decade. In the 1950s, the club challenged Stade de Reims for domestic dominance, completing France's first back-to-back league title wins in 1951 and '52. For good measure, they became the first club to do the League-Coupe de France double in a ground-breaking 1951-52 season.

WATCH Mario Balotelli stars as Nice run riot against Monaco

The last of the four league titles in 1959 marked the end of an era, and after a yo-yo 1960s, the '70s brought new successes in the shape of two runners-up finishes and a Coupe de France final appearance in 1977-78 that was only ruined by the brilliance of Michel Platini.

The 1980s and 1990s in particular were tough for the Côte d'Azur outfit as they were beset by persistent financial problems that even a Coupe de France final win in 1996-97 could not resolve. 

Frédéric Antonetti's tenure as coach in the first decade of the millenium provided the platform for Nice to grow again into a force to be reckoned with as players such as the homegrown Hugo Lloris and untested Brazilian Ederson made their mark.

Jean-PIerre Rivere arrived as president in 2011, and Nice have been on an upward trajectory since. Claude Puel took the side to two fourth-placed finishes, the club moved into their state-of-the-art Allianz Riviera home, finished third under Lucien Favre, and opened a new training centre and youth academy in the space of less than a decade.

With Patrick Vieira taking over as coach in 2018, and the purchase of the club by INEOS in summer 2019, Nice could soon become one of Europe's — nevermind France's — premier clubs.

Club colours

Originally blue and black, the club switched to their now familiar red-and-black shirts when Le Gym absorbed the Gallia Football Athletic Club in 1919. The striped shirts came in in 1948-49 while in 1970-71, the players wore a commemorative blue shirt with a white, red and black band across it. The 2019/20 'Third' kit is a reprise of that design.

Club icon: Joaquin Valle Benitez

Born in Gran Canaria, Valle joined Nice with his brother Luis in 1937, and left 11 years later having written himself into a place in the club's history he still holds today. But for World War II he undoubtedly would have left with more than the 1947-48 second division league winner's medal he picked up. He does, however, remain the club's all-time leading scorer with an almost impossible 339 goals in 407 appearances for Le Gym.

Stadium: Allianz Riviera

Capacity: 36,178

Nice played at Stade du Ray from 1927 to 2013 when their new home was opened, part of the fresh wave of venues built as France prepared to host UEFA EURO 2016. Four matches, including Iceland's famous win over England, were played in Nice, while six matches — among them the third-place playoff — were staged there during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. 

Iconic former players

Hatem ben Arfa (2015-16), Mario Balotelli (2016-19), Nenad Bjekovic (1976-81), Walter Benitez (2016-, Hector De Bourgoing (1959-63), Dario Cvitanich (2012-15), Wylan Cyprien (2016-), Dante (2016-), Dick van Dijk (1972-74), Leif Eriksson (1970-75), Rod Fanni (2005-07), Just Fontaine (1953-56), Jean-Marc Guillou (1975-79), Pancho Gonzalez (1951-61), Jean-Noël Huck (1971-78), Francis Isnard (1963-75), Victor Nurenberg (1951-60), David Ospina (2008-14), Roger Piantoni (1964-66), Alassane Plea (2014-18), Claude Quittet (1969-73)

Did you know?

The eagle that takes flight inside the Allianz Riviera before home games is called Mèfi. The name comes from the warning in French, 'Méfie-toi', meaning 'Watch out!'