Eric Chelle: What to know about new Super Eagles coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday, announced the appointment of Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles.

As the team looks to turn its fortunes around, Chelle is tasked with steering Nigeria’s football giants back to glory.

ALSO READ: JUST IN: NFF appoints Éric Chelle as Super Eagles head coach

Here is what to know about the new head coach;

1. Dual Nationality: Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on November 11, 1977, to a French father and Malian mother, Chelle holds both Malian and French citizenship.

2. Playing Career: Chelle was a central defender who played for various French clubs, including Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais. He also earned five caps for the Malian national team.

3. Coaching Career: After retiring from playing, Chelle transitioned into coaching, managing clubs like GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran.

4. Malian National Team Coach: Chelle took over as the head coach of the Mali national team in 2022 and led them to a quarter-final finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

5. Playing Style: Chelle is known for his strong aerial ability as a player, which is an attribute he seeks to instill in his teams.

6. Languages: Chelle is reportedly fluent in French, English, and several African languages.

7. Memorable Reaction: Chelle’s reaction to Mali’s defeat against Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations went viral, with footage of him squatting on the pitch, struggling to breathe, as his assistants doused him with water to cool him down.

8. Managerial Record: Chelle has a strong managerial record, with 67 wins, 40 draws, and 37 losses in his career.