Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has addressed reports linking him with the managerial role at Olympique de Marseille, clarifying that although his representatives reached out to the Ligue 1 side, he personally had no discussions with the club, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Speaking on the podcast Histoires de Foot (Football Stories), Chelle explained that the approach came solely from his agency as part of efforts to explore opportunities in Europe.
“I had absolutely no contact with the OM management,” he stated.
The Malian tactician disclosed that after signing with a new agency to further his coaching career, his agents initiated contact with a number of European clubs, particularly in France. At the time, Marseille were in the market for a new manager, and his name was put forward. However, Chelle emphasized that the move did not progress beyond that stage.
“Whether I was shortlisted or not, I had no contact whatsoever. You would have to ask my agent about that,” he added. “I’m from the region and I support OM, so when friends asked if I would be interested, of course I said yes. But I never sought any publicity. With social media, it simply escalated.”
Chelle took charge of Nigeria in January 2025 on a two-year contract and went on to guide the Super Eagles to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, further strengthening his growing reputation on the continental stage.