Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has revealed that his biggest ambition in football is to one day manage Real Madrid.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Super Eagles boss made it clear that his sights stretch far beyond the African continent, admitting that taking charge of the Spanish giants would represent the ultimate milestone in his coaching career.
“My dream is to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid,” Chelle said.
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The 48-year-old has steadily built his reputation on the international stage, first guiding Mali to the semi-finals of AFCON 2023 before repeating the feat with Nigeria at AFCON 2025, where he led the Super Eagles to a bronze-medal finish. Those back-to-back deep tournament runs have elevated Chelle’s standing as one of Africa’s most respected tacticians.
While his tenure with Nigeria has not been without setbacks – including missing out on World Cup qualification – Chelle’s ability to organise teams, manage high-pressure environments and compete against elite opposition has not gone unnoticed.
Chelle acknowledged that managing the most successful club in European football remains a distant goal, but insisted that ambition is essential at the highest level of the game. With age on his side and his profile continuing to rise, the Super Eagles coach made it clear he has no intention of limiting how far he believes his career can go.
