Super Eagles coaches: full list and history since 1949

Last updated: 6 October 2026.

Super Eagles coaches have come and gone quickly. The national-team record lists 57 spells in charge since 1949, and two men have had the job five times each. The current head coach is Eric Chelle, the Malian appointed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in January 2025. This guide lists every recorded coach, highlights those who led Nigeria at major tournaments, explains the turbulent changes of 2024 and sets out why different lists give different totals. Details come from the NFF, BBC Sport, Reuters and The Guardian (Nigeria), and are correct as of October 2026.

The short answer

• Current coach: Eric Chelle (Mali), appointed on 7 January 2025. He led Nigeria to bronze at AFCON 2025.
• AFCON-winning coaches: Otto Glória (1980), Clemens Westerhof (1994) and Stephen Keshi (2013).
• World Cup coaches: Westerhof (1994), Bora Milutinović (1998), Festus Onigbinde (2002), Lars Lagerbäck (2010), Keshi (2014) and Gernot Rohr (2018).
• Most spells: Shaibu Amodu and Augustine Eguavoen, with five separate spells each, including interim roles.
• Why counts vary: lists treat caretakers, co-coaches and appointments that never started in different ways.

Every Super Eagles coach, 1949 to today

This chronological list follows the national-team records kept on Wikipedia, with years in charge. Interim and caretaker spells are included.

• 1949–1974: Jack Finch (1949), Adewale Adegoke (1950–52), Daniel Anyiam (1954–56), Les Courtier (1956–60), Jerry Beit haLevi (1960–61), George Vardar (1961–63), Jorge Penna (1963–64), Anyiam again (1964–65), József Ember (1965–68), Sabino Barinaga (1968–69), Peter Amaechina (1969–70), Karl-Heinz Marotzke (1970–72), Penna again (1972–73) and Marotzke again (1973–74)
• 1974–1989: Tiko Jelisavčić (1974–78), Otto Glória (1978–81), Gottlieb Göller (1981), Festus Onigbinde (1981–84), Chris Udemezue (1984–86), Patrick Ekeji (1986), Manfred Höner (1987–88) and Paul Hamilton (1989)
• 1989–2002: Clemens Westerhof (1989–94), Shaibu Amodu (1994–95), Jo Bonfrère (1995–96), Amodu (1996–97), Philippe Troussier (1997), Monday Sinclair (1997), Bora Milutinović (1997–98), Thijs Libregts (1998–99), Bonfrère (1999–2001), Amodu (2001–02) and Onigbinde (2002)
• 2002–2016: Christian Chukwu (2002–05), Augustine Eguavoen (2005–07), Berti Vogts (2007–08), James Peters (2008), Amodu (2008–10), Lars Lagerbäck (2010), Eguavoen (2010), Samson Siasia (2010–11), Stephen Keshi (2011–14), Amodu (2014), Daniel Amokachi (2014–15), Keshi (2015), Sunday Oliseh (2015–16), Siasia (2016) and Salisu Yusuf (2016)
• 2016–present: Gernot Rohr (2016–21), Eguavoen (2021–22), José Peseiro (2022–24), Eguavoen (2024), Finidi George (2024), Emmanuel Amunike (2024), Finidi George (2024), Eguavoen (2024–25) and Éric Chelle (2025–)

That makes 57 recorded spells shared between 41 different men. The Guardian (Nigeria) also lists Joey Blackwell, who does not appear in this record.

Early names and dates are less certain in the historical record, which is one reason totals differ (see below).

The tournament coaches

Africa Cup of Nations

• 1980: Otto Glória, champions on home soil.
• 1988: Manfred Höner, runners-up.
• 1990, 1992 and 1994: Clemens Westerhof, who took Nigeria from runners-up to third place to champions.
• 2000: Jo Bonfrère, runners-up as co-hosts.
• 2002 and 2010: Shaibu Amodu, third both times.
• 2004: Christian Chukwu, third.
• 2006: Augustine Eguavoen, third.
• 2008: Berti Vogts.
• 2013: Stephen Keshi, champions.
• 2019: Gernot Rohr, third.
• 2021: Eguavoen, as interim coach after Rohr was sacked in December 2021.
• 2023: José Peseiro, runners-up.
• 2025: Eric Chelle, third.

FIFA World Cup

Westerhof (1994) and Milutinović (1998) both reached the round of 16, as did Keshi in 2014. Onigbinde (2002), Lagerbäck (2010) and Rohr (2018) went out in the group stage. Keshi also led Nigeria at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

2024: four changes in one year

The modern job has rarely been stable, and 2024 showed it. José Peseiro’s contract ended in late February, a few weeks after the AFCON final, and BBC Sport reported his departure. On 29 April the NFF appointed his former assistant Finidi George as head coach. Channels Television reported that he resigned on 15 June, after a defeat to Benin and a draw with South Africa in World Cup qualifying, when the NFF planned to bring in a foreign technical adviser above him.

In late August the NFF announced the German coach Bruno Labbadia, but the deal fell apart before he took charge. The NFF blamed German tax obligations, and Augustine Eguavoen stepped in again as caretaker. Because Labbadia never coached a match, he does not appear in most lists. The Guardian (Nigeria), however, counted him as the 37th head coach in its August 2024 list.

Eric Chelle’s tenure

The NFF appointed Chelle on 7 January 2025. He had previously coached Mali’s national team. He could not save Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup campaign. The team finished second in their qualifying group behind South Africa and lost the African play-off final to DR Congo on penalties in November 2025. Two months later he led them to third place at AFCON 2025 in Morocco.

Why lists of coaches differ

• Caretakers: some lists count every interim spell and others only permanent appointments.
• Appointments that never started: Labbadia in 2024 is the obvious example.
• Repeat spells: counting coaches and counting spells gives very different totals, because Amodu, Eguavoen, Keshi, Siasia, Onigbinde, Bonfrère and others had the job more than once.
• Patchy early records: 1950s and 1960s sources disagree on names and dates. Even Glória’s spell is given as 1978–81 in some records and 1979–82 in others.

FAQ

Who is the current Super Eagles coach?

Eric Chelle, who has been in charge since January 2025.

Which coaches have won AFCON with Nigeria?

Otto Glória (1980), Clemens Westerhof (1994) and Stephen Keshi (2013).

Has a Nigerian coach won AFCON with the Super Eagles?

Yes. Stephen Keshi did it in 2013, having also won the tournament as captain in 1994.

Who coached Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup?

Clemens Westerhof, from the Netherlands.

What to watch

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa and qualifying for the 2030 World Cup will be the main tests of Chelle’s tenure.

Related: Nigeria World Cup history: every Super Eagles appearance; How many AFCON has Nigeria won? Titles, finals and bronzes; The Headies explained. More in our Nigerian Entertainment section.

Sources

• NFF: NFF appoints Eric Chelle as head coach of the Super Eagles (January 2025)
• BBC Sport: NFF blame tax details as Labbadia deal collapses (September 2024)
• Reuters: Nigeria name Finidi George as manager (29 April 2024)
• The Guardian (Nigeria): Full list of coaches who have managed the Super Eagles (August 2024)