According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Alexandre Dujeux could become the future coach of OGC Nice as early as next season.
What if OGC Nice had found Claude Puel’s successor? Arriving last December to replace Franck Haise on the Gym’s bench, Puel (who was at the club between 2012 and 2016) has not completed his mission to keep the team on the Côte d’Azur. With a five-point lead over relegation, the club will travel to Strasbourg in the next match before playing a Coupe de France semi-final on April 22. While awaiting the end of this challenging season, the Gym is looking towards the future. It is possible that the next coach will be Alexandre Dujeux, the current coach of SCO Angers. “The name of the Angevin coach is not new: he had already been considered by the club this winter, before the choice was made for Puel,” wrote L’Equipe last Saturday.
Dujeux on the rise
Arriving in 2023 at SCO Angers, Alexandre Dujeux contributed to the club’s promotion to Ligue 1 during the 2023/2024 season. A second-place finish behind Auxerre saw them return to the elite of French football. 14th last season, the club is currently 12th and has a 10-point lead over the relegation playoff spot with seven matches remaining. Although safety is not yet guaranteed, Dujeux is on the right track to secure it in the coming weeks. The former assistant to Olivier Pantaloni at Ajaccio and then to Gérald Baticle at Angers could join Nice next season. Linked to the club until 2027, he could automatically extend his contract until 2028 in case of survival. “Despite an automatic one-year extension to come, once SCO’s survival is official, Dujeux should be on the market and he also has the experience of fighting relegation. This dimension could prove important to the Gym, whose financial capabilities under Ineos will continue to decline,” added L’Equipe.
Deprived of recruitment by the DNCG, Dujeux could have much more resources in the south, especially since the club was involved in the Europa League this season (33rd in the group stage with only one win in eight matches). But considering Angers’ season, the management could opt to retain their current coach. Dujeux will undoubtedly be a name to watch on the transfer market this summer.
