Ex-Bayern Munich player Bruno Labbadia set to become Super Eagles coach weeks after initially rejecting appointment
Ex-Bayern Munich player Bruno Labbadia has made a shocking revelation on social media, hinting that he could take over as the new Super Eagles coach.
On August 27, 2024, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Labbadia as the Eagles’ new coach.
The federation said an agreement had been reached with the German, adding that he would take over the team immediately.
A few days later, the 58-year-old tactician pulled out of the deal.
The NFF blamed the “stringent regulations of German tax authorities” for the deal’s collapse.
The federation added that Labbadia wanted NFF “to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary” and was “adamant” about the demand.
But in the latest turn of events, Labbadia recently shared on his social media that the next chapter is Nigeria with the caption, “New chapter 🇳🇬,” he posted on Instagram
The post has sparked many rumours about the German’s impeding re-announcement as the Eagles’ next head coach.
The NFF has kept mum on the development.
Austin Eguavoen was named the Eagles’ interim coach in August. He led the team to the first set of games in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Nigeria defeated the Benin Republic 3-0 in his first game in charge and afterward played out a frustrating goalless draw against Rwanda.
Who is Bruno Labbadia
Born in Darmstadt, Germany on 8th February 1966, Labbadia, won two caps for the German national team in his playing career that took him through clubs such as home-town team Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Armenia Bielefeld and Karlsruher SC. He triumphed in the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich as a player in 1994.
He coached famous names Hertha Berlin and VfB Stuttgart this decade, and previously, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others, and holds a UEFA Pro License.
He is only the sixth German, after Karl-Heinz Marotzke (who had two stints between 1970 and 1974), Gottlieb Göller (1981), Manfred Höner (1988-1989), Berti Vogts (2007-2008) and Gernot Rohr (2016-2021) to lead the Super Eagles.
He is only the sixth German, after Karl-Heinz Marotzke (who had two stints between 1970 and 1974), Gottlieb Göller (1981), Manfred Höner (1988-1989), Berti Vogts (2007-2008) and Gernot Rohr (2016-2021) to lead the Super Eagles
