As he prepares to complete his fourth season on the Côte d'Azur, Hicham Boudaoui passed the 100-game mark for the Red and Black in the match against Paris (0-2). Before being celebrated at the next game at the Allianz Riviera like all the "Gym centurions", let's take a look back at the milestones in the Prince of Bechar's adventure in Nice.

2 SEPTEMBER 2019: THE DAY HE SIGNED

Hicham Boudaoui was only 19 years old when he left his native country and Paradou AC, his first club. The midfielder, who had won the African Cup of Nations alongside Youcef Atal in the summer of 2019, was described as a diamond in the rough and chose Nice for his first experience in Europe. Shy and not yet able to speak French, the Bechar native took a few weeks to adapt, before his talent bursts out for all to see.

24 SEPTEMBER 2019: THE DAY HE MADE HIS DEBUT

A few weeks after his signature, Boudaoui was launched into the deep end of Ligue 1 during a derby at Monaco. The Algerian played his first 26 minutes in his new shirt, replacing Adam Ounas in midfield. The Aiglons lost 3 goals to 1.

23 NOVEMBER 2019: THE DAY HE STARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME

Two months later, the Fennec made his first start. The midfielder lined up in the unusual position of right midfielder in a 4-4-2 formation at Olympique Lyonnais. Although Nice lost 2-1, Boudaoui scored points with his versatility and attitude. He even caused the Lyon player Marçal to be sent off.

21 DECEMBER 2019: THE DAY HE SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL

Starting for the first time in a Nice shirt at the Allianz Riviera during a league match against Toulouse, Hicham did not mess around as he scored his first goal for the Aiglons. After receiving an excellent cross from Pierre Lees-Melou, the midfielder rose to head into the back of the net. Les Niçois would go on to win 3-0.

22 OCTOBER 2020: THE DAY HE DISCOVERED EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

A season later, Gym were back in the Europa League and Hicham Boudaoui was discovering European football. The Algerian, like his team-mates, learned the hard way in the first group stage match against Bayer Leverkusen: the Germans won 6-2 and Hicham was sent off on the hour mark.

24 OCTOBER 2021: THE DAY HE PLAYED HIS 50TH MATCH

The Prince of Bechar could not have chosen a better match to celebrate his 50th cap for the Red and Black. On the 11th matchday of the league, OGC Nice, trailing 2-0 with ten minutes remaining, turned things around to win 3-2 against Lyon.

25 JANUARY 2023: THE DAY HE EXTENDED HIS ADVENTURE

Versatile, talented, a team player... Hicham Boudaoui convinced Lucien Favre as much as Didier Digard during the 2022/2023 season. His high quality performances both in the league and on the European stage led OGC Nice to renew their confidence in their Algerian midfielder until 2027.

"I'm really happy to be extending my adventure here. I will continue to improve at Nice and I will do everything to make the fans happy. There are still great things to come," he said at the time of signing his new contract.

8 APRIL 2023: THE DAY HE PLAYED HIS 100TH MATCH

Third in the vote for the Aiglon of the match that the Gym lost to PSG (0-2), the Fennec did not miss out on his 100th game in the Aiglon shirt. With 91.8% of passes completed, 89% of which were in the final third of the pitch, Boudaoui was, like his team, combative but not rewarded.

Hugo Rondet