“A wonderful bank of knowledge” – Nigeria’s Finidi backed by Northern Ireland’s Cliftonville boss Magilton

Northern Ireland’s Cliftonville manager Jim Magilton has hailed Finidi George has one of the greatest African footballers of all time and a perfect fit for the Super Eagles job, Soccernet.ng reports.

Finidi was named the head coach of the Super Eagles last month, with the former Nigeria international taking over from Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro.

The Super Eagles are preparing for their first competitive games under Finidi, as Nigeria tackle South Africa on Friday before clashing with the Benin Republic three days later.

Many do not know what to expect of Finidi’s Super Eagles but Magilton, who was teammates with Finidi at Ipswich Town, is confident that the former AFC Ajax winger has a lot to offer.

During a hugely successful career, Finidi played under Louis van Gaal at Ajax as well as Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, Luis Aragonés and Guus Hiddink at Real Betis. And Magilton has backed him to bring that experience to bear at his new job.

“If you think of the managers who coached him and the players he played with, he has a wonderful bank of knowledge and experience,” Magilton told BBC.

“If he can transfer that to his players then it is no surprise to me he has now ventured into management and landed a job of such significance as the Nigerian national team coach.”

Finidi was approaching the latter stages of his career when he moved to England to join Ipswich Town in 2001.

Having forged a reputation as one of the world’s best right wingers at Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis, the former Sharks FC star was received at Portman Road with excitement.

Magilton still remembered those moments fondly, and hails Finidi as one of the continent’s greatest ambassadors of the game.

“Finidi must be in the top 10 African players that have graced the game,” Magilton said.

“The Ipswich public could not believe we had signed a player of his stature.

“Finidi was quiet in the changing room but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a leader. He was more of a man of action rather than a man of words.

“He was tall, but he was so athletic and he had this wonderful way of being able to move.”

Finidi can create similar excitement in Nigerians by guiding the Super Eagles to victories over South Africa and the Benin Republic this weekend.