Arriving from Rome in January 1999, Pablo Rodriguez lit up the Red and Black midfield for three and a half seasons. With talent the size of his black mane, with a grit and a list of goals the length of your arm, the playmaker left his mark on the Ray and his supporters. A love story - another one - between Nice and an Argentine which allowed the 5th largest city in France to find its place back in the top flight. 16 years later, ‘Pablito’ has decided to return to live on the Côte d'Azur. Boots are now hung up and his hair has been cut, but the man who began his career as a coach in Uruguay didn’t waste any time before visiting the club of his heart. Before seeing his fans again - he will be honoured at the visit of Lille this Friday - the former number 10 sat down to speak to us at length.

Pablo, in Nice, you changed your name…

That’s for sure, nobody calls me Pablo here! During my first match in Nice, after 20 minutes, the referee gave us a free-kick. I heard the Brigade Sud sing “Pablito, Pablito…”. I had arrived 2 days earlier and I didn’t understand anything: I asked myself if it was for me. I was lucky to score that free-kick and they continued singing. It has stuck since then. For me, it’s a sign of their affection. These supporters, this club, this city... We found love at first sight, I can’t explain it.

“I liked to do little things with the ball”

How do you explain this connection between Le Gym and South Americans?

Idole du Ray entre 1998 et 2003, Pablo #Rodriguez donnera le coup d'envoi de #OGCNSRFC, dimanche.https://t.co/fnb98hBxA7

— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) 7 avril 2016

The Niçois like the South American spirit, their grit, the technique. On the pitch, I wanted to make the most of it. I liked to do little things with the ball: a little flick here, a back-heel, a scissor kick… I think that supporters like that.

You had promised to come back to live here, now that has happened.

Yes, it’s done! It ended badly with OGC Nice, because I was forced to leave by the owners at the time. I was sad because I love the city and the club. In Argentina, everybody is for Real Madrid, Barça, Manchester… but I am a Gym supporter! My children are too, they are fully behind them. They are excited to discover the city and to come and see a match here.

As you left, did you think about joining another French side?

Never. When I left Nice, Metz and Saint-Étienne contacted me. But I promised in an interview that I would never wear a shirt in France that wasn’t the Gym’s. I kept my word and joined Leganes.

“Here to learn and progress”

How was your conversion from playing to coaching?

I was assistant to Marcelo Gallardo at Nacional Montevideo. As we had both played our first match at 16 years old, we weren’t worried to throw in some youngsters. They were able to take their opportunity and lots moved to Europe afterwards. We worked well and became champions. Then I took charge of two other sides in D1 in Uruguay (CERRO Montevideo and Danubio). 

What motivated your decision to come back here?

It had been in a corner of my head for a while now. You know, I have so much love for Nice… And that, that comes from Le Gym. My dream is to coach OGC Nice one day. But it’s not the moment: I need to continue to learn and progress, to become better every day, in the same way as Fred' Gioria has done (assistant coach, Editor’s note).

What memories do you keep of Fred'?

I have very good memories of him, on a personal level. One week after arriving, when I didn’t speak a word of French, he invited me to go and eat at his house and introduced me to all of his family. That invitation, I will never forget it. I followed his career. He has gained a lot of experience. We spoke a bit the other day and it was very interesting. He has everything to become a number one, one day.

“I said to them: ‘Today, we are going to get promoted’.”

What is your best memory with OGC Nice?

There are so many: my first match, the friendships built with my teammates, or even with Martine, our 2nd mum (Sporting secretary at the club, Editor’s note). But if I had to pick one, it’s the day we got promoted, against Istres (3-0), where we needed a win. When we came out onto the pitch, the Ray was full. I said to my teammates: “We need to play calmly and to make the most of this moment. It’s a match that we will never forget because we are going to get promoted.” We had the luck to do so, and God touched me once again because I scored the 3rd goal. Impossible to forget!

What do you make of the evolution of the club?

I really rate the management that Président Rivère has brought about and he has built a club of a high level. Nothing is left to chance. He has thought about the future with the new training ground. It’s a club which brings players through, which forms not only players but also men. You also have to highlight the work done by Claude Puel, who made us grow as a team, and Mr Favre who is continuing on that same path.

“We are used to good things”

How do you rate OGC Nice’s season?

Unconsciously, we have maybe become used to good things. We always ask for more: L1, then safety and now Europe. The club is moving forward, with youngsters who are making their mark and some, will go on to play for some very big clubs.

The match against Lille will be important...

LOSC focussed on youngsters with Marcelo Bielsa, who did some very good work, even if it wasn’t cemented by victories. After 6 months, they progressed and adapted, thanks to a new coach (Christophe Galtier, Editor’s note). We will need to play it seriously and not to think that it is already won. But for me, we need to take the 3 points back home. We will win.

As an Argentinian, do you follow the performances of Walter Benitez?

Of course. When he arrived in Nice, he called me so that I could give him some advice. I repeated the words that Pancho Gonzalez told me back then: “Be calm, you need to work, you are in a magnificent city and are at the best club in France”. He is still young, but he seems to have grown as a player and as a man. You can sense that when he is in his goal, where he seems more assured and solid. His performances are picking up attention back home, and if he continues, he will have a chance at being called up by the national side. Back when I was playing, even when I was in D2, I was called up, but hurt my knee two days before… It would be magnificent to see a Niçois playing with the Albiceleste.

“Recognition, that comes after death, except at OGC Nice”

After Nice - Lyon (in 2013) and Nice - Rennes (2016), it will be the 3rd time that you are honoured by the club…

The place awarded to former players, especially with the reserved stand, and the hommages each game, it has become a club tradition. This recognition doesn’t exist everywhere. Often, recognition only comes after death, but not at OGC Nice!

The team of former Aiglons will now pick up a nice reinforcement...

(Laughs). I am ready! I always enjoy playing, if they invite me to play, even for 10 minutes, I would be delighted.

To conclude, what would you like to say to the fans before you meet them again?

For my first return at the Ray, I thought that they would have forgotten me after ten years away… But their ovation really touched me. For the 2nd, at the Allianz Riviera, they once again chanted my name, with a banner in Spanish: “Pablito, welcome home”. I struggled to see because I had tears in my eyes. They even invited me up to spend the second half in the Populaire and allowed me to accomplish a dream: to get a chant going on the microphone. It was magic! I am excited to see them again on Friday. The last time I came, we won (3-0 against  Rennes). I would take the same thing again this time!

F.H.

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