Nigeria hires Bora Milutinovic - [Rahmon, I told you so].

[Adey Oyenuga]

12.48 p.m. EST (1748 GMT) December 17, 1997

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Former U.S. coach Bora Milutinovic was
hired Wednesday to coach Nigeria, the fourth nation he will lead in
a World Cup.

Milutinovic, who led the Americans to a 31-36-29 record from
March 27, 1991 to April 14, 1995, became Nigeria's fourth coach in
20 months, filling the spot vacated when Philippe Troussier left in
August.

Milutinovic coached Mexico to the quarterfinals of the 1986 World
Cup, led Costa Rica to the second round in 1990 and the United
States to the second round in 1994.

He and Carlos Alberto Parreira will be the only men to coach four
nations in soccer's showcase tournament. Parreira, hired Tuesday
by Saudi Arabia, led Brazil to the 1994 title after coaching Kuwait
at the 1982 World Cup and the United Arab Emirates at the 1990
tournament.

© 1997 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

[Rahmomoh]

Adey,
you right (again..) i guess we are about even by now:)

apparently, he got the appointment by default... i'm glad jo bonfrere didn't
get the job b/c of the way he treated us in the past... and i heard that
kalman was asking for the moon... basically out-priced himself out of the
market. so the only logical choice left is bora...

based on his record, we are assured of getting into the second round.. or
later rounds.

btw,, any comments about his "juicy contract"??.

rahmon..

p.s.
ABUJA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Yugoslav Bora Milutinovic was given a ``juicy
contract'' Thursday to coach Nigeria at next year's World Cup finals in
France.

His appointment was confirmed by Nigeria Football Association (NFA) chairman
Abdulmumini Aminu at a news conference in the capital Abuja.

Aminu said Milutinovic, dropped by Mexico last month despite guiding them to
France '98, was given a ``juicy World Cup contract because of his immense
coaching experience.''

He said the 53-year-old coach had a contract with the NFA until July 31 and
would earn a monthly salary of $35,000 tax free.

``He will get $100,000 for signing the contract, $50,000 will accrue to him if
Nigeria win any first-round match, $75,000 if we reach the semifinals and
$150,000 if we get to the final. If Nigeria win the World Cup, Milutinovic
will receive $250,000,'' Aminu said.

``We are about to witness a dawn of a new era in our march toward our World
Cup dream.''

The West Africans are in Group D with Spain, Bulgaria and Paraguay for the
opening round.

Milutinovic, who starts his new job Jan. 1, is already the only man to have
coached three different teams in the World Cup finals -- Mexico in 1986, Costa
Rica in 1990 and the United States in 1994.

He replaces Frenchman Phillipe Troussier, who was sacked by the NFA in
September after guiding them to next year's finals.

Milutinovic said: ``I'm very happy for the appointment. I need the co-
operation of everybody to succeed in this World Cup assignment.''

British bookmakers have quoted Nigeria, who defied the odds to win Olympic
gold in Atlanta last year, at 28-1 to win the World Cup.

REUTERS@

16:15 12-18-97