Former Juventus and Ajax midfielder Sunday Oliseh has confirmed that he received offers to manage some European clubs in the winter, but he rejected them as they didn’t fit into his plans.
After a successful playing career that saw him win titles in Netherlands and Germany, Oliseh started his coaching career in Belgium with youth teams in the Belgian 3rd Division Verviers.
He after that enjoyed an impressive spell handling the Super Eagles, recording just two losses with the team in 14 matches. But he resigned barely eight months into his stay as manager due to accusations of contract violations.
Another exciting period followed as manager of Dutch side Fortuna Sittard. But, despite leading the team to the brinks of promotion to the Eredivisie, Oliseh was controversially fired two months into the year 2018.
The 1994 African Cup of Nations-winning midfielder has not managed another side since, but a Sports Extra report reveals that Oliseh declined offers from two Belgian clubs – Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and OH Leuven – to get back into coaching.
The coach, once tagged ‘the new Pep Guardiola’, has, however, admitted that he snubbed those offers because he plans to take charge of a team from the start of a league season and not midway through the campaign.
“There were offers from teams in the lower division from Belgium, but I will rather start the season with a new team,” he told Sports Extra.
“What I have in mind is that I would like to be back soon, say in June, with a new club, and for the pre-season.
“I know what I want and what I don’t want, and that is the reason why I have had to say no to some offers I have received, but I’m preparing for the next one.”
It would be recalled that matches in the major league divisions in Belgium have been suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic.