Chelle eyes coaching stint with Real Madrid

Nigeria coach Eric Chelle has revealed his desire to become the first African coach to handle Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The Malian coach, while speaking in a televised interview with RMC Sport’s After Afrique podcast posted on X on Monday, openly claimed his ultimate goal is to take charge at Madrid.

Super Eagles coach, Éric Chelle has publicly stated his ambition to become the first African coach of Real Madrid🤍❤️

“I want to be the first African coach of Real Madrid”, told RMC Sport✨🦅 pic.twitter.com/5sntIbP5RX

— Super Eagles Supporters Club (@official_esclub) February 9, 2026

“My dream is to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid,” said Chelle.

Chelle guided Nigeria to AFCON bronze medal

Chelle currently serves as head coach of the Nigeria national football team and mainly played as a centre-back. Born in Ivory Coast to a

French father and a Malian mother, he made five appearances for the Mali national team.

He spent his whole career in France, appearing for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres, and Chamois Niortais. At international level, he represented Mali.

In May 2021, he was appointed head coach of US Boulogne, but was later dismissed in December 2021, after the club gained three points in preceding ten games.

He took charge of Mali in 2022, and under his guidance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Mali topped their group ahead of eventual semifinalists South Africa and reached the quarterfinals against hosts Ivory Coast, where they were eliminated in the very last minute of extra time.

Chelle was in charge of Nigeria during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, where he guided the Super Eagles to a bronze medal after defeating Egypt in the third-place play off.