I want to coach Real Madrid – Eric Chelle

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has openly declared his ambition to one day manage Spanish football powerhouse Real Madrid, setting his sights on becoming the first African to lead the La Liga giants.

The Malian-born tactician spoke about his future during an interview where he outlined his long-term coaching goals and determination to reach the very top of European club football.

Chelle, a former Valenciennes defender, said managing Real Madrid stands as the ultimate target in his coaching journey as he continues to grow his profile in international football.

“My dream is to become the first African coach to manage Real Madrid,” Chelle said in an interview with RMC Sport.

The Super Eagles boss recently guided Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco — a performance that significantly boosted his reputation across African football and sparked conversations about the rising global recognition of African coaches.

During the interview, Chelle also spoke about major moments from the 2025 AFCON campaign, including dressing room management issues and reported tensions involving star forwards Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen.

He also addressed the widely discussed “water bottle” incident from the 2023 AFCON while he was managing Mali. The dramatic moment, which happened during a tense quarter-final defeat to Ivory Coast, earned him the nickname “Waterman” after he collapsed close to the bench.

Chelle later explained the situation was linked to a serious heart condition. Speaking on the After Afrique podcast, he said, “I was feeling faint.”

He revealed he had been battling atrial fibrillation throughout the tournament.

“During the preparation for the AFCON, I suffered from atrial fibrillation. My heart was beating at 200 beats per minute all the time. I was being monitored, taking medication, but I had dizziness and fainting spells. I spent the entire AFCON like that. After the match, I needed to catch my breath, I was about to faint. The physiotherapist next to me knew I was fainting and put water on my head to keep me awake,” Eric Chelle explained to the microphone of After Afrique.