French coach Hervé Renard has officially stepped down as the head coach of the France women’s national team, Soccernet.ng reports.
Despite speculation linking him with the Nigerian coaching role, Renard’s departure does not pave the way for him to take over as the next Super Eagles coach.
Finidi George, now Rivers United manager, resigned from his role with the Super Eagles, leaving the position vacant as Nigeria faces crucial qualifiers in September.
Although the former Ivorian team manager has several offers on the table, there are significant reasons why he won’t accept the Nigerian FA’s offer.
Financial Instability and Poor Treatment of Coaches
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has a notorious reputation for owing salaries and bonuses. The protracted dispute over Jose Peseiro’s wages and the previous issues with Gernot Rohr highlight this problem.
The NFF also tends to scapegoat coaches, giving them insufficient time to prepare their teams for important matches. For instance, Finidi George had only one meeting with his team before heading into crucial clashes with South Africa and Benin Republic, managing only one point out of a possible six.
High Demands and Financial Constraints
For a coach of Renard’s calibre, such issues are critically assessed by his agents. They would likely advise him against taking the Super Eagles coaching role despite the offer.
Additionally, the NFF may not have the financial capability to meet Renard’s demands, which would likely be no less than €150,000 per month.
Prospects for a World-Class Coach
There have been reports that, with the help of the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, the NFF is planning to appoint a world-class coach. However, it remains uncertain whether the NFF can afford to finance a coach of Renard’s status.
Also, despite Renard’s availability, the financial instability, poor treatment of coaches by the NFF, and the high salary demands make it unlikely that he will become the next Super Eagles coach.
