Four years after leaving OGC Nice, Lucien Favre is back where he raised red-and-black pulses between 2016 and 2018. A number 10 as a player, coach Favre's football is all about blending efficiency with style. We pay tribute to his first spell in the most beautiful city in the world in 10 episodes.

“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO AGREE ON A PHILOSOPHY”

On 24 May 2016, Lucien Favre is officially named OGC Nice first-team coach for the first time, taking over from Claude Puel. The following day, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach coach faced the press: "A coach is always demanding, he needs sporting guarantees. We have talked it over a lot. The board have always answered me honestly, straightforwardly. I like that transparency. The most important thing for me is that we agree on a philosophy and stick to it."

Favre's style is inspired by his idols: Brazil 1970, Liverpool of the mid-70s, Sacchi's Milan, Suaudeau's Nantes, Cruyff's Barça, and the philosophy of an OGC Nice icon, Jean-Marc Guillou: "He was my coach in Switzerland. He is top drawer, I learned a lot from him."

“THEY CAUGHT MY EYE. THEY HAD SUCH AN AURA”

On 14 August 2016, Favre took charge of his first L1 game with the visit of Rennes, and he didn't hesitate to put youngsters Malang Sarr and Vincent Marcel in the team. "I saw them with the U19s. They caught my eye. They had such an aura. I wanted to see what they are capable of and it went well." So well that Malang, then 17, scored the only goal of the game. "It's the icing on the cake," said Favre. "He played well. He's got huge potential. Malang is a great listener when it comes to correcting his game with video analysis. He knows he still has a lot of work to do. But it's not bad to score on your debut at 17. But please, I beg you not to speak too much about him [laughs]."

Though light-hearted in his analysis of his young proteges, Favre's tone turned serious when asked about the game, which came just a month after the terrorist attack on the Promenade des Anglais of summer 2016. "It's difficult to talk about it. It's something that's impossible to take in. Everyone handles it differently. It's good to have won for everyone, but it's only football."

“HE'S THE ONE THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE HERE”

Football is what Favre holds most dear. "The most important quality in a coach is honesty. I told him what we do in training, the tactical options, and that I treat all the players the same. The best ones play." Who was he talking about? Mario Balotelli, the star recruit who arrived late in the summer transfer window of 2016.

Coming in with a superstar billing but out of shape physically, the Italian was born again on the Côte d'Azur after working hard on the training pitch. "To play well, you need movement, to make runs, defend. It's something you have to work at over a long period. My job is to correct and improve the players in certain specific areas, to motivate them. I can do that. He needs other people, the coach and the staff, but it's him who'll make the difference here. With the right attitude, everything will go very well. In terms of technique, his finishing skills, I'm not worried at all. He's shown in the past that he has enormous talent."

'Super Mario' did so again under his Swiss boss, finding the net 43 times in 66 matches. No wonder he took the opportunity to welcome his former coach back to Nice via Instagram.

“ADAPT TO OUR QUALITIES BUT ALSO THE OPPONENT”

"We alternated 3-5-1-1, 3-4-3 etc. We did that in relation to ourselves, to our qualities, but also to counter our opponent. Cyprien prefers playing in that position, but he has to get used to playing anywhere for the team." That was Favre's analysis following his first derby: a 4-0 win over Monaco on 21 September 2016. It was Favre's tactical masterstroke in taking Wylan Cyprien from his habitual position as a holding midfielder — where he had played since arriving at Le Gym that summer — and slotting him in as a second playmaker that helped decide the match.

It was the first — but not the last — time the ex-Borussia Dortmund coach laid out his tactical thinking to the media, sometimes even using a tactics board to aide his explanation…

"IT'S A PARTY"

On 30 April 2017, the Allianz Riviera could hardly contain its joy. And for good reason: the Aiglons swept aside PSG, in a match with a lot at stake: 2nd place in L1, with the Gym 6 points behind PSG with 4 games to go.

Under the burning gaze of 33,190 Niçois, Balotelli, Ricardo and Donis provided a masterful 3-1 victory and allowed the autumn champions the chance to look beyond third place. "It was a party after the game, but like every victory. It's a bit special because it's against Paris but it's still modest. It was a good match, very competitive, with a lot of intensity. We had a good first half. Paris was very good too. It was close for us, we have to be honest.”

Honest and fair, despite the success, which will remain the last against the men from the capital until the one achieved on 5 March 2022, thanks to a goal from by Andy Delort.

“78 POINTS, 3RD PLACE, IT'S EXCEPTIONAL"

At the end of his first season on the red and black bench, Lucien Favre takes OGC Nice to Lyon. The final score was 3-3, a match full of goals and emotions in which no team could take the win. "We had a lot of fun working together," said the Swiss coach at the end of the game. "We had some good moments. We dared to continue to play our game, starting from the goalkeeper. These are risks, which can sometimes cost you, but on the whole it paid off. That's why we always wanted to play. In the end we have 78 points, third place, it's exceptional. We are very happy but also proud of our season. At the beginning it was a bit of a struggle but overall it's deserved..."

In May 2017, OGC Nice qualified for the preliminary rounds of the Champions League for the first time. The squad also ended the season with four losses in the league. A record that still stands today...

"IT'S SNOWING IN NICE"

The following quote is from 3 August 2017 and another legendary night. A night when all of Nice were playing for their European future in Amsterdam, against the great Ajax. The Dutch had just lost the Europa League final to Manchester United and were coming off a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Riviera in the first leg. The tie is theirs for the taking, but the Red and Blacks manage to turn it around.

While the squad had lost several important players in the transfer window, Balotelli was injured and Plea had just returned from a long absence, the focus was on the team, and then on Vincent Marcel, who scored a goal that has become legendary. "Tonight, it's snowing in Nice: he scored with his right foot (laughs). Honestly, I'm just winding him up, he has enormous qualities. It's very positive what I'm saying," the coach laughed after the match which kept the club in Europe. "It was "borderline", honestly, because they were very strong. We suffered. They are very strong tactically, physically and technically. They are well-trained players, with 1-on-1 attacking qualities on the flanks. There are also the shots from the midfielders, who can all score from 25 metres. They have enormous qualities, but we're the ones who got through."

"WE FOUGHT BACK WHEN WE BELIEVED IN IT"

The second season for the Romand in Nice alternates between highs and lows. At its lowest point, Nice flirted with the relegation zone. November 29, 2017, Stade de Toulouse (J15). Mika Seri's teammates find themselves behind after a goal from Delort. They were playing with a numerical disadvantage after Dante's dismissal at the end of the first half and were on the verge of defeat when Le Marchand's handball gave the Violets the breakthrough penalty. A defeat would send the Gym to the relegation play-off place. Benitez saves Durmaz's penalty and suddenly there is a breakthrough: Balotelli equalises, Srarfi - off the bench - scores the winner (1-2).  "It was deserved," said Lucien Favre. "We played more than Toulouse. They scored but then they stopped playing. We had a lot of possession in the first half, but no clear-cut chances. We fought back when we believed in it."

This victory marked a turning point. The men from the Comté climb back up the table, with such style that they find themselves in a position to qualify for Europe on the last day, where a trip to Lyon awaits them (again). A trip before which they are in 6th place...

"YES, IT'S MY LAST GAME"

The Gym eventually missed out on the last step of its season. The dream of finishing in Europe was dashed when Lyon won (3-2) and the club slipped to 8th place. After the match, Lucien Favre announced his departure.

"It was my last game. It was two wonderful seasons, even if it was logically more difficult this year. I had a lot of fun. Nice is a wonderful place to work. The club is wonderful to coach, I advise all my coaching colleagues to do so.”

"WE WILL BE HAPPY TO MEET AGAIN IN THE FUTURE"

"My relationship with the club was very good. We will be happy to meet again in the future with the president and our wives because they also get along well. The human relationship with all the players, without exception, has been fantastic. I have worked with men with whom you can only become attached to. Our understanding within the staff brought great satisfaction. The same with the medical staff, the directors, everyone. There were no clashes or problems, even when things were not going well. It's a well-run club. A warm place. The people are nice. And for my part, I rarely have any relationship problems. I respect everyone.”

In the wake of the announcement of his departure, Lucien Favre spoke at length to OGCNICE.com, in order to come full circle. A circle that is opening up again, to the delight of everyone involved. 

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C.D.