NEW Super Eagles coach, Lars Lagerback, has promised to pick the best players for the World Cup in South Africa in June, ruling out automatic place for any player in the squad
Speaking after he was unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Sweden manager said he would give his best to ensure that the Eagles post a fine performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
“I will give 100 per cent to my new job to ensure that we perform well at the World Cup. My job is to pick the best players for the team, not minding where they play their club football,” Lagerback said.
The Swede, who beat compatriot Sven-Goran Eriksson, Bruno Metsu, Ratomir Djukovic and Glenn Hoddle to the job, however admitted that the time was short for him to prepare the team adequately for the World Cup.
”Time is a big problem for me but you can‘t get everything always. I am overwhelmed by the reception I have received even when I am yet to start work,” he said.
The Director-General National Sports Commission Dr. Patrick Ekeji, who performed the unveiling ceremony, disclosed how Lagerback ended up being picked for the job.
“Before we interviewed Lagerback, Hoddle was picked as the best among the four coaches we had interviewed. But Lagerback swept everybody off their feet with his knowledge of Nigerian football. The selection process for the job will be made public very soon,” the former Green Eagles defender said.
The turnout at the unveiling ceremony was impressive with both the Nigerian Ambassador to Sweden and his Swedish counterpart in attendance. Also on the occasion were board members of the Nigeria Football Federation, Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu and Bolton defender Danny Shittu.
Lagerback managed the Swedish national team from 1998 till 2009, leading Sweden to five consecutive championships, the first time in Swedish history. He resigned as manager in 2009 after Sweden‘s failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
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