The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Monday named Frenchman, Paul Le Guen, as new Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles.
Le Guen, 52, will be assisted by Salisu Yusuf, in the capacity of chief coach of the team.
Their immediate challenge is to qualify Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after missing out on a second consecutive Africa Cup of Nations.
Unlike Yusuf who has served previously with the team, Le Guen is relatively unknown and unfamiliar to Nigerian football.
Here we highlight seven outstanding facts about the vastly experienced Frenchman.
- Former French international
Paul Le Guen was capped 17 times by France between 1993 and 1995 – playing alongside the likes of Eric Cantona and David Ginola.
- An aggressive defender
One fascinating attribute about the tactician was his combative and aggressive defensive abilities during his playing days.
- Captained and coached PSG
Just like many football greats, Le Guen captained and managed French giants, Paris Saint Germain. He played 248 times for the Parisians between 1991 and 1998 – returning as coach nine years after.
- Managed Lyon to three league titles
Le Guen enjoyed his most productive spell while at Lyon. He won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles for the club between 2002 and 2005 before stepping down.
- Played for his home region
Just like Catalonia in Spain, Brittany is a cultural region in the north-west of France which were occasionally involved in friendly games. Le Guen played once for the side in a friendly against Cameroon in 1998.
- Managed just once in Africa
Nigeria become only the second African nation Paul Le Guen has coached since venturing into management. The other is Cameroon which he qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
- Last job was in Asia
After quitting the Indomitable Lions role, Le Guen took over as coach of Asian nation, Oman. He qualified them for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup but was sacked few months after.
