The Nigerian Football Federation has settled on the Portuguese coach José Peseiro, 61, as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.
Although Peseiro’s appointment comes just as the Super Eagles camp officially opens for the African Cup of Nations in Abuja, the NFF clarified that interim manager Augustine Eguavoen will continue to lead the Eagles to Cameroon.
Many fans will definitely wonder what Peseiro’s choice informed from the interest shown in Nigeria’s work by a handful of other coaches.
Here are five things to know about the new sheriff in town.
First coach of the Portuguese Super Eagles
Even before overseeing any Nigerian game, Peseiro’s appointment is historic, as he becomes the first Portuguese manager to be hired to coach the country’s national team.
The Nigerian national team, in its more than 70 years of existence, has had the services of 20 foreign coaches dominated by Germans and Dutch. This thus marks a new era for the Super Eagles, with a coach allegedly recommended by José Mourinho.
Not new to africa
Although the Nigerian team is the first of its kind for Peseiro, the 61-year-old is not entirely new to African football. Peseiro had a short season with the continent’s most successful club team, Egypt’s Al Ahly.
Although he won the league title with Egyptian giants, the Egyptian club’s fans did not take the Portuguese, and this contributed to his early departure from the club.
Has worked in high-ranking clubs
If there’s one thing to be sure of it’s the caliber of Super Eagles players, none of them will intimidate Peseiro.
The Portuguese has been through some high profile clubs like Real Madrid with his Galactic philosophy. He also managed Portugal’s most successful club, FC Porto, among many other top clubs.
Many unhappy endings
Although he has traveled extensively and has vast experience, Peseiro’s basket of problems on different teams at different periods does not instill much confidence.
From Panathinaikos to FC Porto, Braga and even Saudi Arabia, he has hardly ever had a happy ending wherever he found himself.
That said, the Portuguese tactician has some notable moments winning trophies, the latest being the league title with Al-Ahly.
He left Venezuela due to non-payment of wages
The NFF openly admitted failing to pay coach Gernot Rohr’s salaries and, curiously, Peseiro resigned from his last job with Venezuela due to non-payment of salaries.
This perhaps informs some clauses the Portuguese was reported to have defended to be inserted into his contract because, once struck, twice shy!