Tag: Nsien

Nigerian-American coach Michael Nsien has joined  the fray  for the vacant  managerial position of  the Super Eagles, adding he has all what it takes to  steer the  ship  of the three –time African champions.

The 43-year-old Nsien who  is currently  attached  as coach of the United States U-19, believes he is the right man for the job.

“ Of  course, everyone is saying we should go for an indigenous coach  but if you look at my CV  and what I have done, I think I’m the best fort the job,” Nsien who star briefly at the U23 for Nigeria, said.

 “ I have what it takes and I understand what the  Super Eagles mean to Nigerians  as well as the enthusiasm and passion  that I can bring to the job.

“ As a  foreign-based  coach, I understand  what  is needed  for the job  and to work in an extremely professional ways not only with  the federation(NFF) but the players as well.

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“ I think I can offer all these as well and having being in  a well structured environment, I think  I have the best things to offer.”

Speaking further, Nsien surmised  that being one of the youngest coaches  aspiring  to  lead  the Super Eagles would  enhance the  profile  of the  team and short of  saying that  ‘wisdom has not to do with the age of a Methuselah’.

“ Most often in Africa, we always equate  experience with  old age  but this  is not  clearly the case; rather experience  has to do with what you have done  and I have the capacity  with experience working in an environment that spares no expense in technology,  top scouting infrastructure, and coaching collaboration from top to bottom,”  he noted.

A  close confidant of the US-based coach informed  he is scheduled to meet  the chieftains of the NFF at the upcoming  Super Eagles’ international friendly matches  against Ghana and Mali in Morocco.

With Jose Peseiro’s time with the Super Eagles seems approaching its end, American-born Nigerian coach Michael Nsien is  being touted as a possible candidate to take over the three-time African champions, OLUWAMAYOMIKUN OREKOYA writes

Despite exceeding expectations and leading the Nigeria’s national football team to a second place finish at the recent African Cup of Nations, Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro’s job is on the line as the Portuguese and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are yet to agree on his contract extension.

Already, rumours have surfaced that the former Saudi Arabia and Venezuela coach would resign his position in the coming days and is set to take over the vacant Algeria job.

Although Michael Nsien had a stint for the U-23 side during their preparation for the 2004 Athens Olympics, in Nigeria, his name hardly rings a bell in the football sector.

However, the 43-year-old, who was born in the US, is regarded as one of the elite coaches revolutionizing the game in America and is the current U-19 national team coach. He was the U-16 national team coach before his current role and holds a US Soccer Pro License (the first African-American to earn it in 2020) and UEFA ‘A’ License.

He also had stints with FC Tulsa, where he rose from the youth ranks to become head coach and led the Oklahoma-based club to their best years in the USL Championship, leading them to two consecutive playoffs in 2020 and 2021.

As a footballer, the retired defender might not have had a trophy-filled cabinet after moving from the University of Dayton (where he was invited to the U-23 national team) to LA Galaxy and then on to Portland Timbers and Saudi Arabian giants Al-Shabab, but he’s shown he’s a coach capable of handling top-class pros — while at FC Tulsa — and also identifying young talents and helping chart a career path for them since assuming the role of the head coach of the US U-19 MYNT five months ago.

Nsien, whose father is from Eket in Akwa Ibom state, said his style of management places emphasis on his personal knowledge of his players and his relationship with them.

”Yes, I value understanding the player first as a person before I can understand them as a player,” he said.

 “Although I was born in the United States, I am well versed in the modern trends of the game worldwide. I have a disciplined yet fluid model for style of play that would suit the qualities of the player.

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 “I have a clear understanding of my principles and style of play. I have well thought out and defined methods of how to train, develop and share my concepts to my staff and my players. I am strong in defending my principles but open to adapting and implementing new concepts.

 “I have worked with various levels of talent, and I know that I can help develop and execute a process that will maximize the potential for all players that are at my disposal. I have a proven track record of collaborations within organisations, to assist in being objective in setting goals and reaching them.”

The ambitious 43-year-old is hoping to join the global elite coaching class soon, which has seen him spend time learning the coaching ropes with European giants Benfica, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City at their respected academies.

“I have a strong desire to compete amongst the best in the football profession and find success,” Nsien noted. “I thoroughly enjoy the learning aspect and the finer details of the game, proven leadership capability with the competency of forming and managing elite level teams as well as coaching staff and high performance; strengths in tactical acumen, long-term planning, man-management and media relations.”