The Gym and Europe

A third consecutive qualification: has it ever been seen before?

Have the Gym already qualified for Europe three years in the trot?  As the visit of Montpellier approaches (kick-off on Sunday at 3pm), a decisive match in the race for Europe, the question is worth asking. A look into the archives is enough to demonstrate the size of the challenge that the 2017/2018 generation face. 

A "nearly" in the past

To find an example of being on the verge of "a third consecutive European campaign, you need to head backs to the 60s. The glorious decade preceding this era (with titles won in 51, 52, 56 and 59) of course, saw the Red and Blacks make their debut on the continental stage, but with just two adventures in the Coupe des Champions (during the 56/57 and 59/60 seasons). And for that very reason, the C1 was born in 1955.

At the end of the 60s, the Niçois participated in the Coupe des Villes de Foires for three consecutive seasons (from 1966 until 1969). A huge difference to nowadays: it wasn't the final league standings that determined access to the predecessor of the UEFA Cup, which then became the Europa League. 

Performances weren't taken into account. Cities hosting an international funfair declared themselves interested in participating and the Fédération Française de Football put forward their names. 

                                     OGC Nice, 1966/1967 season

During this period, Pancho Gonzalez's side (Gonzalez went from defence to the dugout) never managed to get to the first round, losing successively to Göteborg, Fiorentina and Rostock.

More recently, Gernot Rohr's side also rubbed shoulders with European opponents (Orgryte, Werder, Esbjerg) in the now forgotten Intertoto Cup, in the summers of 2003 and 2004.

So, it's indeed fact that OGC Nice has never, in its 114 year history, manage to secure a European place in three consecutive seasons.  

They have five games to go out and do so...  

Source : Michel Oreggia