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The new coach of the first team, Adrian Ursea is deeply attached to OGC Nice, the club that he joined for the first time in 2016. Here is his history in Rouge et Noir told through a series of key dates.

24 May 2016: The start of the adventure

On 24 May 2016, Lucien Favre was named as Les Aiglons' new coach. In agreement with the club, the Swiss coach arrived with just one assistant: Adrian Ursea. The two men met during their time in Switzerland and worked together at Servette FC, and then never broke their relationship, even when Lucien Favre left for Germany: "We speak the same language, he likes finesse", Favre said on 14 November 2016.

Adrian arrived at Le Gym with his ideas and vast experience. A former number 10 and Romanian international, his playing days saw him spend most of his career in Switzerland (Locarno, Chênois, Bulle, Vevey, Stade Nyonnais), before beginning his coaching badges.

11/09/2016 - 30/04/17 - 29/11/17: His memorable moments

The three matches that Ursea chose when summing up his two seasons on the OGC Nice bench between 2016 and 2018. All three correspond with moments that have marked the recent history of the club. On 11 September 2016, Adrian got his first taste of the derbies of the south of France. Nice host Marseille. The Allianz Riviera was on fire, as was Mario Balotelli (whom he was close with), who picks up a brace in his first match in L1. With the match looking like it was heading for a draw, Wylan Cyprien secured the victory with just two minutes to go with a beautiful strike (3-2).

The second date (30 April 2017) was the match between Nice and Paris, which Les Aiglons won after a monumental performance (3-1). It was the high point of an excellent season, in which Les Rouge et Noir battled for the title throughout, but where a lack of gas in winter saw them finish in third place.

The final moment that marked his time at the club: 29 November 2017. Another season, another symbol. The men from the Côte were in a tricky period and trailed Toulouse at the Stadium, which virtually sent them into the relegation zone after 15 matches.

Benitez saved his side with a penalty save and Le Gym got back into the game and went on to win the match (2-1). They finished the season in 8th place in the league.

26 July 2018: "A magnificent experience"

Beautiful stories are those that leave their mark in the hearts of those that write them and those that observe them. It is most definitely the case for Adrian and Le Gym. In the summer of 2018, he left the club after two years of solid and loyal service, following the departure of Lucien Favre to join Dortmund. Jean-Pierre Rivère spoke at the time and insisted: "Adrian will always be at home in Nice."

In the days that followed, it was the coach that has dual Swiss and Romanian nationality's turn to speak. He did so on 26 July 2018, after following the first team's pre-season camp in Divonne-les-Bains. "I have been lucky to have lived an incredible experience, I won't say goodbye to the club. I am just saying 'see you soon'."

6 November 2019: The comeback

"I was convinced that we would be back together, now it has happened." On 6 November 2019, after managing the Servette FC's U21s, Adrian completed his return to OGC Nice.

A logical comeback for the man that had never been far from the club, despite the distance. He joined Patrick Vieira's coaching staff, where he was reunited with Fred Gioria, his former colleague and friend. Tasked with scouting the opposition, he led the video unit and returned to the pitch.

4 December 2020: New OGC Nice coach

The 4 December becomes one of the key dates in the relationship between Nice and Ursea. Following Patrick Vieira's departure, Adrian officially became Les Aiglons' head coach, at 53 years old. This experience is not his first in charge of a first team. In February 2003, he was tasked with keeping Servette FC in the Swiss Super League. The context? The departure of Lucien Favre, followed by a complicated start to the season for Les Grenats, at time time managed by Roberto Morinini. Adrian succeeded in his mission and kept the club in the top flight. He was back managing the side again between September 2004 and March 2005, before continuing his education with roles for the Swiss national side and Neuchâtel Xamax, where he became Sporting Director in 2007. 15 years later, he returns to a role as head coach.

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