Even that seemed a strange appointment for a man who had enjoyed a successful, if hardly glittering, professional playing career, which peaked with his inclusion in Nigeria's squad for the 1994 World Cup. If his club employers were rather less distinguished – he had spells in the United States, Belgium and Germany, as well as a brief stint at Notts County, before retiring in 2000 after two years at Maccabi Tel Aviv, then coached by Grant – his coaching CV was even less impressive.