Frenchman Henry Michel will be the new coach of the Super Eagles, if the words of a top Nigeria Football Federation official are to go by.
The Frenchman had last week expressed his willingness to manage the African champions if approached by the NFF.
But that was before the soccer body dispensed with the services of Stephen Keshi as Nigeria coach.
Keshi was sacked few hours after Nigeria defeated Sudan 3-1 in the African Cup qualifier last week in Abuja.
Henri Michel
Since then several coaches including Ex-Netherlands skipper, Ruud Gullit, Germany World Cup winning captain, Lothar Mathaus , Klaus Toppmoller and Roger Lamerre have been linked with the Eagles’ job.
However, it is the well travelled Frenchman, according to the NFF official, that may eventually get the job currently hold in interim capacity by Shuaib Amodu and three other coaches put together by the federation.
Michel is a well respected figure in African football having handled the national teams of Cameroon, Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia during an illustrious coaching career.
He also led the French national team that included the legendary midfield quartet of Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse and Luis Fernadez to third place finish at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.
The NFF official told Naij on Monday that those in the federation know the quality of the veteran Frenchman and will do anything possible to engage him for the Super Eagles.
He said the Frenchman pedigree stands him out from the rest of the chasing field.
According to him, Michel has vast knowledge of African football, having coached four top national teams on the continent at different stages of his career and will bring his technical expertise to bear on the Super Eagles.
He added that the Frenchman unlike Nigerian coaches will not be intimated by the array of stars in the three-time African champions.
The source, however, said the federation will still spread his dragnet and sound out other coaches not presently linked with the job.
But for now, Michel is the favourite to clinch one of the most coveted coaching jobs on the continent, he added.
He expressed doubt about the ability of Gullit and other “big coaches” linked with the job to cope with pressure associated with the Eagles job and most importantly thrive on the continent.
“Henry Michel is the most suitable person for the Super Eagles post, among those currently linked with the job and the NFF will go for him. He knows the terrain well having worked for several years in Africa.
“He is technically sound and his input will be felt by the players. He will manage the players’ ego and will not be intimidated by their status,” the NFF official stated.
posted by Maduka Tony