Manchester United coach Steve McClaren is reportedly in the running for the Nigeria national team job, amid changes to the backroom staff at Old Trafford.
The former England manager, who has been part of Erik ten Hag's coaching setup for the past two years, is said to be on a shortlist to replace Finidi George, who recently left his role as Super Eagles boss.
Nigeria are seeking a new permanent coach after a woeful start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, and a high-profile bust up between Finidi and star striker Victor Osimhen that contributed to the former stepping down.
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McClaren on Nigeria's radar?
Reports from Nigeria suggest that McClaren has already held talks with Nigeria Football Federation officials. He is apparently one of three candidates considered for the position, alongside Frenchman Herve Renard and Belgian Tom Saintfiet.
Nigeria aims to appoint a new manager before the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers begin on September 2 against Benin.
The latest development comes as Manchester United recently confirmed the appointments of Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy as Ten Hag's assistant managers.
Those changes might influence McClaren's decision to pursue international management once again, following his previous stint as England manager from 2006-2007.
The potential move to Nigeria represents an intriguing opportunity for McClaren, who returned to Old Trafford in 2022 to assist Ten Hag, having previously worked with him at FC Twente in the Netherlands. However, his lack of experience managing in Africa could be a point of concern.
Man United's backroom overhaul
The shakeup of Manchester United's backroom staff is part of new owners INEOS' efforts to revamp the Old Trafford club's football structure.
Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy were recently replaced by Hake and Van Nistelrooy. Despite those changes, new sporting director Dan Ashworth has shown no intention of replacing McClaren, and he could yet still be in the dugout when Manchester United's Premier League campaign kicks off on August 16 at home against Fulham.
