Lagerback named as Super Eagles Technical adviser

Lagerback named as Super Eagles Technical adviser

Posted on 27. Feb, 2010 by Pappy Dee in Sports Gist

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday named Swede Lars Lagerback as the man to lead to Super Eagles to the World Cup on an initial 5 month- contract . The 61 year old was selected following an intense week of interviews by the NFF technical committee in Abuja.His competitors included Glen Hoddle (who many speculated would get the job),Bruno Metsu , Sven Goran Eriksson and Ratomir Djukovic.

According to Kickoffnigeria.com, Lars Lagerback is expected to be officially unveiled at a media conference on Wednesday, just before the friendly international against Democratic Republic of Congo in Abuja. The Swede will remain in Abuja to complete negotiations on the final details of his contract and is expected to sign the deal early next week before his midweek unveiling.

The NFF proposed three local assistants for him in Austin Eguavoen, Daniel Amokachi and Alloy Agu but he has insisted on his own back-room staff. It was also resolved that the Presidential Task Force would pick up the tab for the new manager for the duration of 5 month contract.

So who is Lars Lagerback ?

Born Lars Edvin Lagerback on 16th July, 1948, the new Super Eagles’ boss started his coaching career in 1977 when he took over at Kilafors IF in Sweden, where he spent five years. He also had stints with Arbra BK and Hudiksvalls ABK before joining the Swedish Football Federation in 1990 as Coach of the U-21 team. In 1996, he moved to the Swedish B Team, and two years later became Assistant Coach of the senior team. In 2000, he took charge of the team, and led them to the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Korea/Japan where they lost to Teranga Lions of Senegal. He then took Sweden to the quarter finals of the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, before also leading the team to the Round of 16 at the World Cup in Germany two years later.

He will definitely need all aspects of his impressive credentials as he has just stepped into arguably one of the hardest jobs in world football with barely 4 months to the World Cup. What do you think about the new Super Eagles technical adviser ?

2 Comments

Ladi

28. Feb, 2010

Well, not a bad choice. He definately has experience coaching at international level. Better choice that Glen who hasnt coached for years. However, his decision to have his own back room staff could haunt him because he will definately benefit from having some local assistants such as Siasia and Oliseh (though I dont understand the initial proposal including augustine and alloy) who understands the dynamics and politics of Nigerian football. Anyway, I pray he performs and I’m optimistic.

Michael

02. Mar, 2010

ONIGBINDE PART 2

I want all Nigerians to hear me on this one. Amodu took us to world cup twice. He sucessfully led us to two bronze medals in two nations cups.

This guy is a success whether Nigeria likes it or not. Look at his record with BCC Lions.

U can check the fifa rankings of Nigeria at the end of every amodu era to confirm this.

The sooner we cease to be obsessed with this idea of fifth-grade foreign coaches like berti vogts and lars lagerback, and return to our 3rd-grade Nigerian coach- the better it is for us.

Nigeria wants the super eagles to play football like the egyptians or south korea (with passion).

I laugh. Let’s wait and see the nature of contraband drugs lar lagerback would use to make Yakubu and Kanu young again, or make Mikel run around the pitch like essien.

Maybe he would include in the team some of the overaged siasia boys who could not beat their younger brother’s mates in Egpty under 20; or Okoro- the only messi that is 30 plus years old.

Amodu- I hail u- if naija calls u when they are in distress, pls answer us as u did in 2002 when a dutch coach (bonfrere joe) almost prevented us from qualifying from the world cup.

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