Official: NFF appoints Germany’s Bruno Labbadia as new Super Eagles head coach

German tactician Bruno Labbadia has been appointed the new head coach of the Nigerian men’s national team, the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Nigeria Football Federation announced the decision to appoint Labbadia early on Tuesday morning following months of searching for a new handler for the former African champions.

In a statement released on their official media space, the NFF confirms that the German gaffer has agreed to take charge of the Super Eagles with immediate effect.

German, Bruno Labbadia, becomes 37th Head Coach of the @NGSuperEagles
 
The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles. pic.twitter.com/AKq92upW4g— The NFF (@thenff) August 27, 2024

The statement reads: ‘The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles.

‘NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said in the early hours of Tuesday: “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Mr. Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

The appointment is with immediate effect.”‘

The Super Eagles had been without a coach since former Ajax winger Finidi George vacated the role following a brief spell in charge. 

Who is Bruno Labbadia?

A striker during his playing days, Labbadia featured for several clubs including FC Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, and Bayern Munich during an eventful career.

Labbadia won the DFB-Pokal with FC Kaiserslautern and the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich and earned two caps for Germany before he retired in 2003.

He went straight into coaching and just like his playing career, the 58-year-old has managed only German clubs including Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, and Wolfsburg.

Labbadia’s last coaching assignment was at VfB Stuttgart, a club he joined in December 2022 and was sacked in April 2023, after the team dropped to the last place on the Bundesliga table.

The former FC Koln boss will take charge of Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda next month.

NB: What do you think about the NFF’s choice of Bruno Labbadia? Leave your comments below.