Headline: Bruno Labbadia Appointed as New Head Coach of Super Eagles
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the appointment of Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team. Labbadia becomes the 37th coach to lead the team.
Official Statement
NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, confirmed the news early Tuesday. He stated, “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.”
Background on Bruno Labbadia
Bruno Labbadia was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on February 8, 1966. He is a former professional footballer who played for several top German clubs, including Bayern Munich, Hamburger SV, and Werder Bremen. Labbadia has also had a successful coaching career, managing teams like Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, and Wolfsburg. He holds a UEFA Pro License.
Previous German Coaches
Labbadia is the sixth German to coach the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of notable names like Manfred Höner and Gernot Rohr. Höner led the team to a second-place finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr guided Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Immediate Challenges
Labbadia’s first task will be to lead the Super Eagles in two crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda in September. These matches will be followed by four more qualifying games in October and November.
List of Super Eagles’ Coaches
- John Finch (England) – 1949
- Daniel Anyiam (Nigeria) – 1954-1956; 1964-1965
- Les Courtier (England) – 1956-1960
- Moshe Beit Halevi (Israel) – 1960-1961
- José Peseiro (Portugal) – 2022-2024
- Finidi George (Nigeria) – 2024
- Bruno Labbadia (Germany) – 2024-Present
This list highlights the history of coaches who have led the Super Eagles, showing the diversity and international experience brought to the team over the years.
