At the age of 34, Francesco Farioli has been in charge of the first team for just over a week. Before pre-season steps up a notch, we take a look back through Le Gym's history books, to give the arrival of the 'mister' a century-old echo.

THE 3RD ITALIAN TO TAKE CHARGE OF LE GYM

Francesco Farioli is the third Italian to take his place on the red and black bench. The previous Italian head coach harks back to a cherished era: the club's return to L1. The great Sandro Salvioni led his team to success during a 2001-02 season rich in colour and emotion.

Salvioni arrived at the helm in 2000 and went on to manage the club 82 times in D2. He then left the club in style, having secured promotion to the top flight. Gernot Rohr succeeded him on the bench in the middle of a stunning summer.

We have to go back to the beginning of the 20th century to find the first Italian on the Nice bench. A former defender at the club (52 matches for Le Gym between 1925 and 1934), Jean Lardi (Giovanni was his name at birth) was player-coach of Les Aiglons at the start of the 1932/33 season, when he was 34, the same age as Francesco Farioli.

Replaced by Jim Mac Dewitt in October 1932, Lardi returned to the bench during the 1946-47 season, then for 2 days in December 1950. In all, he spent 36 games as head coach.

THE YOUNGEST COACH IN RED AND BLACK HISTORY?

Francesco Farioli may be the youngest coach in the club's modern history, particularly since the club's promotion, but he is a few years older than some of the men who sat on the bench at the start of the last century. What makes these men different is that they were all player-coaches, at a time when it was common to wear the two hats. At the age of 27 years and 4 months, Swiss Edmond Kramer coached the team for 10 days, from 18 to 27 December 1933.

At the age of 27 years and 8 months, Spain international Luis Valle, older brother of the legend Joaquin, replaced his compatriot José Samitier in February 1942. He coached the team for 110 matches until 1946.

The other player-coaches younger than 'Mister' Farioli when they took over were Emmanuel Lowy (31 when he took charge of his first match on 17 August 1935) Johann Tandler (32 in November 1933) Maurice Castro (32 on 8 December 1946) and Karel Kudrna (32 in August 1937).

---