Why I Rejected Super Eagles Job – Hervé Renard

French football manager Hervé Renard has revealed that he came close to becoming the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles earlier this year, but ultimately declined the offer. Renard, who has previously managed the national teams of Ivory Coast and Zambia, said the approach from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) followed the sudden departure of Finidi George in May 2024.

Renard was one of the top candidates for the position after negotiations with German coach Bruno Labbadia collapsed. Despite the NFF offering Renard what he described as the most lucrative contract of his career, the Frenchman decided it was not the right fit.

“I almost went to Nigeria. I weighed the pros and cons for a few days, even weeks, before eventually turning it down. It was the best offer I’ve had so far, but it didn’t suit me in the end,” Renard told French media outlet L’Équipe, as reported by Brila FM.

In the meantime, interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has taken charge of the team, preparing them for the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Libya. Eguavoen, who has been at the helm of the Super Eagles in various capacities over the years, hinted at what would be needed for him to consider taking the job on a permanent basis.

Speaking to Brila FM, Eguavoen stated that any potential long-term role would require more than just results on the pitch. He emphasized the need for a long-term contract, patience from the NFF, and adequate time to build a competitive team.

“The Super Eagles job isn’t one you take lightly,” Eguavoen said. “If I were to take it permanently, I’d need time to reflect because it’s not a small task. I’d need a long-term contract, patience, and a clear understanding that you don’t win every day. Building a team takes time.”

Eguavoen has expressed frustration over his previous stints as Super Eagles coach, noting that his tenures were often cut short, preventing him from fully realizing his vision. He compared his situation to that of former coaches Clemens Westerhof and Gernot Rohr, who had longer periods to develop the team.

“In 2006, I was in charge for six months, and other times it was just two months or a few games. Westerhof had five years, Rohr had six years – they had time. I never had two consecutive years,” he said.

Eguavoen stressed that to succeed as the permanent head coach, he would require both contractual stability and confidence from the NFF to build a strong Super Eagles team capable of long-term success.