OFFICIAL: Bruno Labbadia appointed as new Super Eagles head coach
German tactician Bruno Labbadia has been named the new head coach of Nigeria’s men’s national football team, the Super Eagles. SportsRation reports.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Labbadia’s appointment early on Tuesday, concluding a lengthy search for a new manager for the former African champions.
In an official statement, the NFF confirmed that Labbadia has agreed to take over the Super Eagles immediately.
“The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that it has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles,” read the statement. 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 with immediate effect.”
The Super Eagles have been without a head coach since former Ajax winger Finidi George left the role after a brief stint in charge.
Labbadia, a former striker, enjoyed a successful playing career with clubs like FC Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, and Bayern Munich. He won the DFB-Pokal with FC Kaiserslautern and the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich. Labbadia also earned two caps for Germany before retiring in 2003.
Transitioning into coaching, Labbadia has managed several German clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, and Wolfsburg. His most recent coaching role was with VfB Stuttgart, where he was appointed in December 2022 but was dismissed in April 2023 after the team fell to the bottom of the Bundesliga table.
Labbadia will now lead the Super Eagles in their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda next month.
