Jose Peseiro recently announced his decision to leave his role as Nigeria’s coach, weeks after leading them to their first Africa Cup of Nations final since 2013.
The Portuguese took over in May 2022 and masterminded one of the Super Eagles’ best runs at the tournament.
With the role now vacant, one man – Peseiro’s friend – could be perfect for the role, and that man is Jose Mourinho.
The ‘Special One’ is jobless after he was fired as AS Roma boss earlier this year.
Mourinho is one of the greatest coaches of all time. His success across different leagues in Europe is well-documented.
From leading Porto to the 2004 Champions League to helping Roma win the first Europa Conference League title, the Portuguese has seen it all and done it all, per Sky Sports.
There are a few reasons why the 61-year-old could be the best coach to take the Super Eagles forward. The biggest stumbling block would be Mourinho’s salary. The Portuguese pedigree means he could ask for a big check the West African nation may not afford.
Reasons why Mourinho is perfect for Nigeria
5. Nigeria’s talented squad
On paper, Nigeria is one of the most talented squads in world football. They have a long list of elite strikers, like Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, and Sadiq Umar.
Moreover, the former Chelsea boss could persuade diaspora players eligible to play for Nigeria. Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Joshua Zirkzee could be great additions to the squad. The Super Eagles struggled to create for Osimhen in Ivory Coast, and if those players chose to play for Nigeria, they would be a different team.
4. World Cup opportunity for Mourinho
The former Manchester United boss could have a chance to lead the Super Eagles to the 2026 World Cup. He has never coached at a World Cup, and Nigeria gives him a good chance of making history.
In 2026, most of Nigeria’s players will be in their prime, and having a serial winner like Mourinho as your coach would elevate them to a different level against some of the best teams in the world. No African team has ever reached a World Cup final. Therefore, Mourinho could see that as a chance to cement his status as a great.
3. Mourinho’s wealth of experience
The former Tottenham manager has been coaching for over 20 years at the highest level. He has coached some of the best players of all time, like Cristiano Ronaldo, so he has the know-how to deal with top players. On top of that, his tactical knowledge would be invaluable to the three-time AFCON champions.
In addition, he has come up against hundreds of coaches with different styles of play, so he is well-placed to react to any style thrown at home.
2. Mourinho’s style of play
Mourinho is known for his pragmatic style. This style was successful for him early in his career, but he has struggled to recapture that success. He last won a league title in Europe’s top five leagues in 2015, per the Independent. Although that style has yielded fewer results in the last few years for Mourinho, it could be perfect for international football.
Morocco reached the 2022 World Cup semi-final with a conservative approach. Their resolute defensive performances against Spain and Portugal saw them reach the last four. Nigeria has better-attacking players than that Moroccan team, meaning Nigeria can do even better under Mourinho.
1. A different challenge for Mourinho
Mourinho has never coached in international football, so this will be a different ball game for the ex-Porto manager. He has coached elite clubs like Man United and Real Madrid and even went a step below in Roma and Tottenham Hotspur. Nigeria are one of the best teams in Africa. Mourinho could relish that chance to take over from Peseiro.
Source: www.sportsbrief.com
