Who is Hill?

•Ex-United coach aiming to be next Eagles coach

Jonathan Hill, a former Manchester United youth coach with over 35 years of experience, has expressed interest in coaching the Nigeria national team. With the team’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in jeopardy, Hill’s extensive résumé, which includes mentoring stars like Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden, positions him as a potential saviour for the struggling Super Eagles, PETER AKINBO writes

Jonathan Hill, a former Manchester United coach with a track record of developing elite football talent, has expressed a keen interest in managing Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles. This comes at a crucial stage for Nigerian football, as the team faces the daunting prospect of missing out on the 2026 World Cup unless their fortunes dramatically improve.

With over three decades of experience in football management and coaching, Hill believes he possesses the expertise to restore Nigeria’s standing on the global football stage.

Journey of resilience 

Born in 1971, Hill’s career in football began as a promising player. However, a career-ending injury at just 17 forced him to pivot, igniting his passion for coaching.

Over the next 35 years, Hill built a distinguished career across various roles, developing a reputation as a tactician and a mentor.

His coaching journey started in youth football, where he honed his craft at clubs like Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, and Everton. But it was at Manchester United that Hill’s talent truly shone.

During his time with the club’s esteemed academy, he worked with future stars like Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Michael Keane, and Danny Welbeck, shaping their early careers.

Hill’s influence extended beyond the youth system. At Fulham, he served as Rene Meulensteen’s assistant during the 2013/14 Premier League season, collaborating with seasoned professionals like Dimitar Berbatov and Scott Parker. This period broadened his tactical and managerial acumen, a crucial element of his coaching philosophy.

Global Experience

the 54-year-old’s expertise is not confined to England. His career has taken him to Norway, where he managed Tromsø IL and Tromsdalen UIL, navigating the challenges of both top-flight and lower-league football.

He also served as the Technical Director for the Jordanian Football Association, a role that allowed him to shape footballing structures at the national level.

As Sporting Director at Sheffield Wednesday under Carlos Carvalhal, Hill gained valuable administrative insights, complementing his on-pitch skills. These experiences have rounded him into a versatile football professional, capable of adapting to diverse football cultures and systems.

The Nigerian Context

The Eagles’ current plight paints a challenging picture. Nigeria, a nation with a rich footballing history and fervent support, failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after a bitter loss to Ghana.

This defeat not only robbed the team of global exposure but also cost the Nigeria Football Federation significant financial rewards, including a missed $10.5m payout (₦4.5bn).

Despite Austine Eguavoen’s success in securing a place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the NFF remains committed to finding an expatriate coach who can revolutionise the team.

Hill’s interest in the role of the Eagles’ head coach position highlights his admiration for Nigerian players.

“I’ve always known Nigerian players to be incredibly athletic, technically skilled, and brimming with energy,” he said in an interview with SportsBoom.

He envisions harnessing the country’s vast talent pool to build a cohesive, competitive team capable of achieving international success.

Daunting task

Hill is not naive about the challenges. Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign is in dire straits, with the team languishing near the bottom of their group after four matches.

To secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, the Eagles must win their remaining games and rely on favourable results elsewhere, an uphill battle.

Still, Hill remains undeterred.

 “It’s a demanding role, but it pushes you to deliver your best,” he remarked, confident in his ability to adapt to the high-pressure environment of African football.

“This is a position I very much fancy because of its demanding nature and the relentless pursuit of delivering top results.”

He views the role as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, much like his successes at Manchester United and beyond.

The stakes

For a football powerhouse like Nigeria, missing consecutive World Cups is unthinkable. The 2026 tournament, to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, offers not only a chance for redemption but also a stage to showcase the nation’s immense talent.

The former Manchester United coach’s extensive résumé, which includes mentoring players like Phil Foden and Oliver Norwood, may offer the tactical innovation and developmental focus the Super Eagles desperately need.

However, the question remains; can Hill translate his expertise into tangible results on one of football’s most demanding stages?

The prospect of Hill leading the three-time African champions stirs a mix of hope and scepticism among fans and pundits alike. His credentials are vast, but Nigerian football comes with unique challenges, cultural expectations, administrative hurdles, and the unyielding scrutiny of a nation of over 200 million football lovers.

The clock is ticking, and the stakes could not be higher. For Hill and Nigeria, the journey to redemption is only just beginning.