SUPER Eagles head coach coach Eric Chelle has cleared the air on his rumoured interest in the managerial role at French club Olympique Marseille.
Chelle was linked with the top job at the former European champions after they parted ways with Roberto De Zerbi earlier this month.
The Ligue 1 side ultimately opted for former Senegal international Habib Beye to replace the Italian, and Chelle has now explained the circumstances which saw him associated with the vacancy.
“Look, I had absolutely no contact with the Olympique de Marseille leadership,” Chelle said.
“I think what happened is that I recently signed with a sports agency, with the goal of progressing and growing as a coach. I made a career decision to commit to this agency, it’s a people-first agency with a vision I identified with.
“So, my agents decided, as all agents do, to sound out certain clubs in Europe and particularly in France. At that point, OM were looking for a manager. My agency reached out to the club to, I believe, put my name forward.
“And that’s as far as it went on my end. Whether I was on a shortlist or not, whether there were rumours or not, I personally had no contact.
“You’d have to ask my agent whether he was in touch and where I stood on that list, if I was on it at all. But I said nothing, I did nothing. I never communicated that I was in contact with them.”
Chelle continued, “Now, it’s true that since I’m from France, when I chat with a couple of friends, they ask me: ‘Eric, we see you’re in Marseille, would you like to coach here?’
“I used to be an Olympique de Marseille supporter because I played a few matches in that stadium with the Ultras and if someone asks me that question, I’ll honestly say: yes, I’d love to manage OM.
“Of course. But no, I never communicated about it publicly. I never asked for anyone to communicate about it either.
“They’re a passionate club with an enormous fanbase. There’s so much excitement around this club, and the rumour took on a life of its own through social media and eventually reached Nigeria. And that’s really the whole story.”
Chelle also reiterated his commitment to the Super Eagles, with whom he reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in January.
“Of course I am still the manager of Nigeria,” Chelle added. “I have one year left on my contract.
“In fact, just yesterday I was on a video call with my technical staff to finalise the squad list for the March matches. So yes, I am still very much the manager of Nigeria.”
