“Lucien Favre brings home on average 1.98 points per game in Ligue 1 with Nice, the best ratio of a Nice coach in the history of the league.” Delivered clearly by our partner, Opta, the stat falls nicely ahead of the clash between the Gym and Angers (kick-off Friday at 7pm). It underlines the effectiveness of the Swiss manager and if we delve into the record books, we can get an even better context of his achievements. Favre also has the best win ratio out of his counterparts with 56.8%. A journey through the figures. 

44 matches, 25 wins, 12 draws, 7 defeats. On the eve of the 7th game of L1 in the 2017/2018 campaign, here is the appraisal of the former Gladbach coach in our dear league. Meticulous, demanding, the coach who lead his side to a podium finish, is now underway in his second season, and is already running at a higher speed than the coaches featuring in the Red and Black history books created in 1904.

In a table of the men who have spent time on the Nice bench, the Swiss coach leads the immense Jean Snella. Coach between 1971 and 1974, the man from Metz was at the head of one of the best generations ever seen in the Comté. His squad of internationals (Baratelli, Adams, Guillou, Loubet, Eriksson, Jouve…), felt the wind in their hair, delighted the most beautiful city in the world, but never managed to lift a trophy. In 3 seasons at the helm, coach Snella (105 matches, 48 wins, 28 draws, 29 defeats) gleaned, on average, 1.64 points per game (*). Solid, rapid. 

Emile Veinante comes just after him and completes a symbolic podium. At the head of the Aiglons for one season (1949-1950) – the season which preceded the first Champions of France title -, the former RC Paris attacker ended the season with a very honourable finish (34 matches, 16 victories, 7 draws, 11 defeats).  Working out at an average of 1.62 points per outing. 

The huge Jean Luciano finishes in 4th positon of the top 5. Born in Nice in 1921, he played for the Aiglons in several stints and then became coach and sadly passed away in 1997. The Niçois spent 4 seasons in charge of the club between 1958 and 1962. Which can explain the slightly less plump average than those of his illustrious counterparts (186 matches, 80 wins, 39 draws, 67 defeats, meaning a 1.5 point average per match). An average that is eclipsed of course by the Champion of France title he secured in 1959. 

Finally, Luis Carniglia occupies the final step of this top five, securing the same average as Jean Luciano (1.5 point per match). The Argentine steered the ship between 1955 and 1957. With, at the heart of his reign, a Champion’s medal (1956) and a more than flattering record: 68 matches, 29 wins, 15 draws and 24 defeats.

C.D.

*for balance, victories have been counted as 3 points and not 2 as it was at the time.

** caretakers Jean-Marc Guillou (7 matches) and Gérard Buscher (4 matches) have not been taken into account.

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