Roger Ricort (67) has been appointed as OGC Nice's new Sporting Director, marking a return to the club where he previously held the role between 2005 and 2009.

Following a difficult season and with a number of major challenges ahead, OGC Nice is continuing its restructuring by returning to the sporting philosophy that helped establish the club following its promotion back to the top flight. It is therefore with great pride that Le Gym announces the appointment of Roger Ricort as Sporting Director.

A former midfielder from Nice's Saint-Roch district, Ricort represented the club between 1987 and 1990, making 89 appearances and scoring eight goals. He returned to Le Gym in 2002 as Director of Development before taking over as Sporting Director in 2005, a role in which he enjoyed considerable success despite limited resources - thanks to astute recruitment and a clear sporting vision.

Maurice Cohen was the man who first appointed him more than 20 years ago. Now, in the summer of 2026, the OGC Nice President has, with the backing of INEOS, brought him back to the club.

"Beyond his recognised expertise, Roger and I share a long history and a relationship built on trust over many years," said Cohen. “We know each other extremely well and share the same standards and the same vision of what OGC Nice should be. His return is excellent news for the club. Roger understands Le Gym's identity better than anyone. He knows what this shirt represents and the expectations that come with it. His experience, his knowledge of the market and his ability to build a balanced squad will be invaluable as we continue the club's sporting development. I am delighted to be working alongside him once again. Together with Olivier Pantaloni, we will form a united team driven by the same desire to help the club progress, build for the long term and give our supporters a team they can truly identify with.”

Ricort also spoke of his delight at returning to the club.

"Coming back to OGC Nice means a great deal to me," he said. "This club holds a special place in both my career and my heart. I am extremely happy and proud to return, with the ambition of building, together with everyone at the club, a squad that truly reflects Le Gym's identity: ambitious, committed, driven by high standards and deeply attached to the shirt it wears. I am also delighted to be reunited with Maurice. We share a strong professional relationship built on trust, dialogue and a common vision. I know we will take great pleasure in working together for the benefit of OGC Nice.

"I can't wait to get to work with the players and the entire staff, and to work alongside Olivier Pantaloni to build a strong, coherent project. There is a lot of work ahead of us, but also tremendous energy and a real desire to write a new chapter in the club's history."

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