The reports that have percolated since mid-May were confirmed Sunday – Patrick Vieira is departing New York City FC for OGC Nice in Ligue 1. The decision was confirmed in a since-deleted article on ManCity.com, the website for NYCFC’s English sister club Manchester City.
NYCFC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Here are screenshots of the original post:
Following New York City’s 1-1 draw against Atlanta United on Saturday, Vieira opened his presser with a polite request amid multiple reports that he had coached his final game with the club.
“I just want to talk about the game –nothing else,” Vieira said. “So please, I hope you will understand it so let’s just talk about the game – please.”
Although captain David Villa would not acknowledge Vieira’s departure, he willingly described the impact that the former French international had in his two plus seasons with NYCFC.
“You can see on the field – we are a strong team,” Villa said. “We can lose because this is soccer. You see the identity of the team – this is the most important for us. We are only 3 and a half years as a club and we need to create this kind of way of playing for the future.”
Three member of Vieira’s current staff will join him in Nice, according to the report – assistant coach Christian Lattanzio, performance coach Kristian Wilson and physical performance coach Matt Cook.
For weeks, Vieira denied reports out of France that he was a frontrunner for the OGC Nice coaching job. Then last week, his tone changed slightly.
No replacement for Vieira has been named although there has been speculation.
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