‘It Wasn’t About the Salary’ – Labbadia Reveals Why He Rejected Super Eagles Coaching Role
By Okafor Joseph Afam
October 18, 2024
Following his surprising rejection of the Super Eagles coaching role in August, German coach Bruno Labbadia has recently opened up about his reasons for turning down the job.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had officially announced Labbadia’s recruitment as head coach for the Nigerian national team, only for the 58-year-old to decline the offer just three days later. His unexpected decision left many fans and pundits speculating on the reasons behind it.
In a candid interview on the Flatterball podcast, Labbadia shed light on his thought process, explaining that his rejection of the job had nothing to do with financial issues. He emphasized that the NFF’s premature announcement disrupted his plans and created a situation that felt increasingly difficult to manage.
“I wanted to go abroad now,” Labbadia said. “The basic premise for me was that I needed to be in Nigeria, to see everything firsthand. That didn’t happen after the announcement was made.”
He went on to clarify that salary was not the determining factor in his decision. “It wasn’t about the salary anymore either. There were several organizational issues that became problematic. It got worse and worse, and I didn’t even have two days left to meet the national team. Then I pulled the reins because the feeling was getting worse and worse.”
Labbadia further elaborated that he had hoped to be in Nigeria at least four to five days ahead of time, before the players arrived, to gain a sense of the environment and better prepare himself for the role. “That didn’t work,” he said.
Reflecting on his discussions with the NFF, Labbadia noted that the conversations were productive, but ultimately, his personal need for adequate preparation and concentration outweighed everything else. “It was my feeling that I didn’t have the time I needed for 100-percent concentration. That’s why I said goodbye.”
As of now, the Super Eagles are being managed on an interim basis by Austin Eguavoen. The NFF has indicated that a new permanent coach will be appointed in the near future.
