The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially named German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, MySportDab Reports.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, marking the end of a prolonged search for a permanent manager for the three-time African champions.
The NFF confirmed in a statement that Labbadia has accepted the role and will take charge immediately. “The Nigeria Football Federation has reached an agreement with German tactician Bruno Labbadia to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, the Super Eagles,” read the official release.
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, added, “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 effective immediately.”
Labbadia’s appointment fills the void left after former Ajax star Finidi George’s short stint as interim head coach ended. The Super Eagles have since been without a permanent manager, prompting the NFF’s search for a seasoned tactician.
Labbadia brings a wealth of experience from both his playing and managerial careers. As a former striker, he featured for top clubs like FC Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, and Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga with Bayern and the DFB-Pokal with Kaiserslautern. He also earned two caps for Germany before retiring in 2003.
Following his playing career, Labbadia transitioned into coaching, where he managed several Bundesliga sides, including Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, and Wolfsburg.
His latest role was with VfB Stuttgart, where he was appointed in December 2022 but was dismissed in April 2023 after a difficult run of results.
Labbadia’s immediate focus will be preparing the Super Eagles for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda next month. The German tactician is expected to bring stability and new energy to the squad as Nigeria aims for success on the continental stage.
