EX-ENGLAND boss Steve McClaren is in the frame to become Nigeria’s national coach, according to reports.
McClaren, 63, is part of Erik ten Hag‘s backroom team at Manchester United having returned to Old Trafford two years ago after previously working under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Yorkshireman had a disastrous 16-month spell as Three Lions manager before being sacked in November 2007.
He went on to win a Dutch league title with FC Twente, and managed Nottingham Forest, Derby, Newcastle and QPR.
Multiple reports now claim McClaren is on a three-man shortlist to replace Finidi George, who made way as Nigeria boss last month.
The former Middlesbrough manager is said to have held talks with Nigeria Football Federation officials.
They are seeking to make an appointment before the Super Eagles resume their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign in September.
McClaren’s two rivals for the Nigeria job are Frenchman Herve Renard, 55, and Belgian Tom Saintfiet.
Former Cambridge United boss Renard won AFCON titles with Zambia in 2012 and the Ivory Coast three years later.
Currently the France women’s team coach, he previously managed the Angola, Morocco and Saudi Arabia national sides.
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Saintfiet, 51, has been the Philippines boss since April. They are the TENTH national side he has led, with Malta, Togo and Gambia among his previous jobs.
NFF chiefs are thought to have expressed concerns that McClaren has never worked in Africa before.
However his club and national CV outshines those of Renard and Saintfiet.
And Nigerian media have claimed the Englishman is willing to take a pay cut in order to return to national management with the Super Eagles.
McClaren led Middlesbrough to a League Cup win and Uefa Cup final before landing the England job.
He could now take charge of one of Africa’s football powerhouses, boasting Premier League stars in Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Frank Onyeka, Wifried Ndidi and Calvin Bassey.
