Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has opened up about his long-term ambition of managing Spanish giants Real Madrid, revealing that becoming the club’s first African head coach remains the ultimate dream of his managerial career.
Speaking in an interview with French broadcaster RMC Sport, the 48-year-old Franco-Malian tactician spoke candidly about his aspirations at the highest level of football.
“My biggest dream? To become Real Madrid’s first-ever African coach,” Chelle stated.
Since taking charge of Nigeria in January 2025, Chelle has worked to rebuild his reputation on the international stage. He was appointed at a difficult time for the Super Eagles, with the team struggling early in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Although Nigeria failed to secure a direct ticket to the tournament, they advanced to the African playoffs as one of the best second-placed teams.
The Eagles’ qualification hopes eventually ended in Morocco after a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo. Nigeria later lodged a petition over the eligibility of five dual-nationality players fielded by their opponents, a case that remains under review by FIFA.
Despite the disappointment, Chelle’s stock rose significantly during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He guided Nigeria to the semi-finals without losing a single match in regulation time before the team went on to secure a bronze medal with victory over Egypt in the third-place playoff.
His growing reputation has since attracted interest from several countries, adding to a coaching journey that began in 2014 with French amateur side Groupe Sportif Consolat. He later went on to manage Mali between 2022 and 2024 before stepping into the Super Eagles role.
While Chelle remains focused on building a strong Nigerian team, his dream of one day leading Real Madrid reflects the scale of his ambitions. For the coach, the idea of making history as the first African to take charge at the Santiago Bernabéu stands as a personal and professional target for the futur
