Julius OkoriePerhaps overwhelmed by the volume of reactions that followed ill-fated appointment of Germany’s Bruno Labbadia, the NFF decided this time to adopt a hush-hush approach in the appointment of a new Super Eagles coach.
The Glass House on Tuesday night, January 7, 2025 appointed Ivory coast born coach, Éric Chelle as the manager of the Super Eagles. That probably brings to an end a search that has lingered since the exit of Portuguese coach, Jose Peseiro.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelEric Chelle who is expected to resume work with “immediate effect” according to a statement from the NFF media team has the responsibility to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
READ ALSO: Mixed Reactions As Appoints Éric Chelle Super Eagles Coach
While reactions over his suitability or otherwise for the job rages on, here are 15 things to know about Eric Chelle who is partly Ivorian and partly Malian by virtue of his birth.
- Full Name:Éric Sékou Chelle
- Birthplace: Eric Chelle was born in Côte d’Ivoire to a French father and a Malian mother.
- National allegiance: He chose to and represented Mali on the international stage, earning six caps between 2003 and 2006.
- Professional Playing Career: Played for clubs in france viz including Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais.
- Coaching Experience: Led Mali national team to a semi-final finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast in 2024. He has coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne, and MC Oran.
- Coaching Style: Eric Chelle is known for promoting an exciting, free-flowing style of football, often utilising a 4-4-2 formation.
- Coaching Certificate: Obtained a UEFA Pro coaching license.
- Achievement with Eagles of Mali: Recorded 14 wins, 5 draws, and just 3 losses across 22 matches in two years.
- Competitive Selection: Chelle emerged as a preferred choice for the Mali coaching position, beating candidates like Gernot Rohr.
- Coaching Philosophy: He subscribes to the belief that “attack is the best form of defence.”
- Mali Sacked Eric Chelle in June 2024 after leading the country to a goalless draw against 10-man Madagascar in a Group I World Cup qualifier.
- National Team Experience: Nigeria will be the second national team he will be handling.
- Position as a player: He played as a Centre Back in his playing days.
- Percentage win Rate With clubs: Recorded highest percentage win with Mali 63.64% and lowest percentage win with Boulogne 12.50%
- Preferred formation: 4-3-1-2
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
