Domenec Torrent: Agent of Guardiola’s ex assistant explains how he missed out on Super Eagles job

Domenec Torrent was linked with the Super Eagles job before Finidi George was given the nod

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are once again without a coach for the second time in the first half of 2024, following the recent departure of Finidi George.

The former Enyimba coach chose to leave his role with the Nigerian team after underwhelming results in the FIFA World Cup qualification series against South Africa and the Republic of Benin.

Before Finidi's appointment, several foreign tacticians were linked with the permanent head coach position of the Nigerian team, including Domenec Torrent, who was widely considered the favourite for the role.

The 61-year-old Torrent, with his extensive experience and close affiliation with Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, topped the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) list of candidates.

However, to the surprise of many Nigerians, the NFF ultimately chose Finidi as the manager of the Super Eagles.

In the aftermath of Finidi's stint, a representative of the Spanish coach detailed how Torrent missed out on the opportunity to coach the Nigerian team.

How Torrent missed out on coaching Nigeria

In a report captured by media outlet OwnGoalNigeria, the representative who spoke anonymously detailed how the former Galatasaray manager was primed for the role, however, a sudden twist meant the NFF overlooked him.

The representative mentioned that he had initially received a call from the football federation indicating that coach Torrent was on the verge of being appointed manager.

However, after the March international fixtures, which Finidi oversaw in an interim capacity, the NFF's stance shifted, and Torrent was no longer considered for the position.

However, the NFF has changed tune in pursuit of a new manager, opting to keep it exclusive to foreign tacticians, which could give Torrent another shot at coaching the Nigerian team.

According to data from Sofascore, the 61-year-old has achieved considerable success in his coaching career, boasting a 47%-win percentage since taking on head coaching roles.