From Thursday, OGC Nice will be taking part in the Trophée Veolia, organised by Olympique Lyonnais, in the Groupama Stadium. On this occasion, Les Aiglons will take on Celtic (Thursday at 18:15) and Rangers (Saturday at 18:15). Prior to Le Gym's third and fourth pre-season matches, we take a plunge into the club's historic ties with Scotland, marked by a coach from the North of the United Kingdom, and European clashes with clubs from the country.

Jim MacDewitt, Le Gym's second professional coach

Founded in 1904, Le Gym gained professional status in 1932 and took part, that year, in the very first edition of the French professional football championship. At that time, the brand new National Division, made up of two groups of 10 teams, had a very 'British' accent. Among the top-flight sides, nine entrusted their destiny to a tactician from Great Britain, the birthplace of this king of sports.

OGC Nice 1932/33 season

In Nice, Scotsman Jim MacDewitt took his place on the bench in the wake of the departure of Jean Lardi, Les Aiglons' first professional coach, who resigned on October 12, 1932. 

At Le Gym, Jim MacDewitt held the reins for 27 games - eight wins, eight draws and 11 losses. He also reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France.

He resigned on 8 November 1934, replaced by player-coach Hans Johann Tandler. 

The Rangers and the European Champion Clubs' Cup

This Saturday (18:15), OGC Nice will face Glasgow Rangers, 64 years after their last meeting - which, coincidentally, was Rangers' first-ever European match. 

In 1956/57, the two teams met in the Round of 16 of the European Champion Clubs' Cup, the forerunner of the current Champions League.

For a month, the tie was the talk of all Scotland and Nice, with the clubs, teams and fans going on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. The sides won, were defeated, were forced to postpone the return match by heavy rain, and were finally separated at the end of an epic match. A triple-header in three different venues.

The first match took place in the stadium of Scotland's most successful club on 24 October 1956. Despite Jacques Faivre's opener (23'), the Gym lost 2-1. Luis Antonio Carniglia's men exacted their revenge on 14 November at the Stade du Ray, in a duel in which the artists had to 'lift their legs'. Trailing 1-0, the Red and Blacks reversed the trend just after the hour-mark through Ruben Bravo (61') and Jacques Foix (64').

With just a few minutes to go, after a very "physical" half, Muro was attacked by Lorie. Ruben Bravo came to defend his team-mate and... was sent off, along with Lorie, in the 85th minute, in what was the first red card for any club in the Champion Clubs' Cup.

Victorious in one hell of a battle, Nice snatched victory in crunch clash at the Parc des Princes. In the French capital, they clinched qualification thanks to a 3-1 victory, with goals from Jacques Foix (41'), Alberto Muro (52') and Jacques Faivre (75'). They went on to be eliminated in the next round against Real Madrid (3-0/3-2).

Kilmarnock and the return to the European stage

Much more recently, OGC Nice faced another current Scottish Premiership side in the form of Kilmarnock FC.

The 1997/98 season marked the Gym's return to European football after a 19-year absence. Led by Silvester Takač, the Red and Blacks crossed paths with the Scottish club in the last 32 of the European Cup Winners' Cup.

The first leg was played on 18 September 1997 at the Stade du Ray, where Stefan Kohn scored twice (13', 48') and Mickaël Rol also struck (79') to seal a 3-1 victory.

In the second leg on 2 October 1997, Les Aiglons did not tremble in Scotland despite conceding the opening goal to the British and seeing Kohn forced off with an injury that would side-line him for five months. Zoran Milinkovic equalised a quarter of an hour from time to ensure his side's qualification.

Le Gym went out in the next round against Slavia Prague, despite having gone undefeated (2-2, 1-1).

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