Manager aged just 34 is dominating Ligue 1 after eighth successive clean sheet

Ligue 1 has been taken by storm by a 34-year-old manager who had led his unbeaten side to sit just one point behind PSG at the top of the table.

It has been a brilliant start to the season for Nice, who remain unbeaten in their 13 league games. They have accumulated ten clean sheets already – picking up an eighth consecutive shutout in a row after beating Toulouse 1-0.

It just shows the brilliant job and incredible potential that Francesco Farioli has since taking charge in the summer. The Italian took the reins a few months ago as he embarked on his first managerial job outside of Turkey, having previously managed both Karagumruk and Alanyaspor.

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Born in 1989, Farioli never played professional or even semi-professional football, instead studying philosophy and sports science at university. He later began his career in football as a goalkeeping coach with Italian minnows Margine Coperta.

Farioli later held goalkeeping coach roles at Fortis Juventus and Lucchese before moving to Qatar and coaching at the Aspire Academy and the Qatar U16s. He returned to Europe as a goalkeeping coach under Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi at Sassuolo from 2018 to 2020.

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He had a first stint as an assistant manager with Super Lig side Alanyaspor, before he landed his first managerial job at Karagumruk in March 2021 – becoming the youngest manager on the continent at the time at 31. Farioli was linked with the Sunderland hotseat in the summer but a move never materialised.

After finishing 9th in the table last season under former Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre and ex-Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard, Farioli has completely changed the fortunes of Les Aiglons who are now hot on the tail of the Parisian giants.

Farioli has been able to build an exciting side mixed with the experience of 40-year-old former Brazil and Bayern Munich centre-back Dante, as well as the youthful quality of Liverpool target Khephren Thuram and Sofiane Diop in midfield. While match-winner against Toulouse, Terem Moffi, has also been a hit since making his loan move last season permanent.

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