In this post, platinumtimes.ng archives all you need to know about Finding George, Super Eagles interim coach.
Finidi George is a football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Nigeria Professional Football League club Enyimba F.C. and an interim head coach for the national team, Super Eagles.
Finidi is recorded as the player who scored the goal that took Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals when Nigeriawas put ahead against host country, Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993.
He served as one of the assistants to former head coach, Jose Peseiro and he is prepared to lead the Super Eagles in the friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
Here’s all you need to know about him
Birth
Finidi George was born on April 15th, 1971 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He was nicknamed “The Gazelle”, he is a retired professional footballer.
Career
His early career began with Nigerian club’s such as the Calabar Rovers, Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC), and Sharks (now Rivers United).
He won the Nigerian league title with Iwuanyanwu Nationale in 1990 after which he signed a football deal with AFC Ajax in 1993 together with former player, Nwankwo Kanu.
While in this clubside, he scored four goals in 27 games and this made the team to win the Eredivisie title, which was also achieved in the following two seasons.
He also won eight major trophies with Ajax including three Dutch League titles, two Dutch Super cups, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.
He moved to Spain in 1996 and signed for Real Betis, where he netted in double digits in nearly every season, with the Andalusians finishing fourth in his first year, which also brought a Copa del Rey final loss against FC Barcelona.
He also had a brief spell in England before retiring.
Finidi was an important member of the Nigeria team during the 1990s, appearing in two World Cups.
He helped the national team win the 1994 edition of the tournament in Tunisia and also achieved one second and two third-place finishes.
He also represented Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups, 1994 and 1998.
Personal life
Finidi is known to be one of Nigeria’s greatest wingers, he was a physically strong and tall player who was known for his deceptively rapid pace, accurate crosses and efficient dribbles.
He was also known for his accurate free kicks. Finidi was not only known for his technical abilities, but he also possessed a unique footballing brain and solid dribbling skills.
Two of his brothers Igeniwari and Celestine, were also footballers, and the former was killed during a stampede.
Achievements
On 11th June, 2023, he won his first title as a coach after winning the Nigeria Premier League at Onikan Stadium in Lagos.
Appointments
In September 2021, Enyimba F.C. named Finidi as their new head coach.
In March, 2023, Finidi George was named as the interim head coach of the national team, Super Eagles by the National Football Federation (NFF).