Following Roberto De Zerbi’s exit, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has come to be among the names being considered for the open Olympique de Marseille managerial position.
Marseille started looking for a new manager following a severe 5-0 league loss to Paris Saint-Germain, which marked the end of De Zerbi’s stay at the team.
Reports from France suggest that Chelle’s name has been submitted to the Ligue 1 team via intermediaries, despite no official offer being made.
The 48-year-old tactician raised his name following Nigeria’s third-place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the Super Eagles delighted with an aggressive style and ended as the top scorers of the tournament. With no upcoming international matches, he is considered available if Marseille acts quickly.
As Marseille considers its options, The News Chronicle understands that Chelle is facing strong competition; former Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi and Rennes coach Habib Beye are also under review.
Notwithstanding the growing rumour, Nigeria Football Federation chairman Ibrahim Gusau has maintained that Chelle is under contract for another year and is expected to keep his word.
As the coach kept working with the national team, he insisted that the federation wanted to avoid distractions.
As the club narrows its shortlist, Marseille has not yet initiated direct negotiations with any candidate.
