Eric Chelle
- Name: Eric Chelle
- Birthdate: November 11, 1977
- Birthplace: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- Occupation: Professional football coach
Éric Sékou Chelle is a Franco-Malian football manager and former professional defender.
As of January 2025, he serves as the head coach of Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, bringing extensive experience from both European and African football spheres.
Early Life and Playing Career
Born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, to a French father and a Malian mother, Chelle holds both French and Malian nationalities. He spent his entire playing career in France, beginning with FC Martigues in 1998.
He later played for Valenciennes FC, contributing to their promotion to Ligue 1, and then for RC Lens, where he made 82 appearances. He concluded his playing career with stints at FC Istres and Chamois Niortais, retiring in 2014 with a total of 375 professional appearances.
Internationally, Chelle earned five caps for the Mali national team between 2004 and 2006.
Transition to Coaching
Chelle began his coaching career in 2014 as an assistant at GS Consolat in France. He was promoted to head coach in 2016 and later managed FC Martigues from 2017 to 2021. In 2021, he briefly coached US Boulogne.
In May 2022, Chelle was appointed head coach of the Mali national team, leading them to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was dismissed in June 2024 following a World Cup qualifying draw against Madagascar. Subsequently, he managed Algerian club MC Oran from October 2024 until January 2025.
Appointment as Nigeria Head Coach
On January 7, 2025, Chelle was appointed head coach of Nigeria's Super Eagles. He has expressed a commitment to attacking football and aims to revitalize Nigeria's campaign to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
His appointment follows a period of managerial instability within the Nigerian national team, and he is tasked with steering the team back to success on the international stage.
