Nigeria Content Online

A
member of the all-conquering 1994 Super Eagles, Finidi George, has been
appointed a member of the technical crew of his former club, Real Betis
in Spain.

The right winger,
who was at one time adjudged to be the best crosser of the ball, was
officially presented on Wednesday as the new International Director for
the Spanish club side. George would be working hand in hand with coach
Pepe Mel.

One of his tasks will include scouting for players. He
expressed delight at being recognised by the club where he played for
four years, and expressed his readiness to start work. “It is an
opportunity you (the club) gave me to join the technical body and I
look forward to work to bring in good players,” he said. He went on to
say he would use the opportunity of his global assess and profile to
raise the club to greater heights. “I am going to focus on football
outside Spain like Africa, Europe and other places where there are good
players who can come to Betis,” he said. “I know the coach very well
and I actually played with the assistant coach Roberto Rios and the
trainer Jesus.”

His career

Finidi joined Real
Betis in 1996 from Ajax, in a deal worth $7.6 million, scoring 38 goals
in 130 appearances before moving on to Real Mallorca, and Ipswich Town,
in the English Premier League, before ending his career at Real
Mallorca. At Ajax, he cemented his place as a legend by providing many
memorable assists. In that club, he scored 18 goals in 85 appearances.
He started his career as a central midfielder with Sharks in Port
Harcourt, joining his older brother, Alari George, before his skills
drew the attention of national selectors. He then spent two seasons
with Calabar Rovers before returning to Sharks in 1993. In Port
Harcourt, where he grew up and began his career, he is most admired for
his creativity in midfield; but it was as a winger that he gained
global recognition for the accuracy of his crossing, which was even
rated ahead of David Beckham and Luis Figo at his prime.

Dutchman Clemens Westerhof recognized this, and Finidi’s crosses
brought out the best in Rashidi Yekini making the latter Nigeria’s all
time top scorer. He has been living in Spain and is very fluent in
Spanish and Dutch. At the national scene, he made a goal scoring
international debut for Nigeria against Burkina Faso in a thrilling 7-1
defeat where he set up 3 goals, scoring the last after coming on for
Austin Eguavoen at half time. He also scored twice in the World Cup
qualifiers that secured Nigeria’s first ever qualification for the USA
94 FIFA World Cup. Finidi featured for Nigeria at the Senegal 92
(bronze), Tunisia 94 (gold and Cup,) Nigeria/Ghana 2000 (silver) and
Mali 2002 (bronze).

He also represented Nigeria at the USA 1994 and
France 98 World Cup and was vice-captain to Sunday Oliseh when the team
qualified for the 2002 World Cup; but both of them were controversially
omitted from the final squad. His goal against Greece is best
remembered for his “dog” celebration and is often replayed.