Founded on July 9, 1904, as Gymnaste Club de Nice (GCN), Ligue 1 club OGC Nice has a rich history ingrained in the fabric of French football.
The club was established by Marquis de Massengy d'Auzac, who wanted to introduce gymnastics and other sports to young people in Nice. In the early years, GCN was not solely focused on football but incorporated various sporting activities including cycling and athletics.
Football officially became the main sport when GCN merged with Gallia Football Athlétic Club and Olympique Gymnaste Club Nicéen in 1920 to become what we now know as Olympique Gymnaste Club de Nice (OGC Nice). This merger marked a significant turn towards professional football for the organization.
In their embryonic stages, OGC Nice had some notable successes including winning the South-East Championship multiple times during the late twenties. The first major national success came when they lifted their maiden Coupe De France trophy in 1952.