[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] Only months after failing to lead his native Sweden to the 2010 World Cup finals, Lars Lagerback has come out of retirement to take over as Nigeria's national team coach.

The 61-year-old Lagerback had worked as Sweden's co-coach with Tommy Soderberg at Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 and coached Sweden by himself at the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008.

Under Lagerback, the Swedes reached the knockout phase on three occasions.

Lagerback replaces Shaibu Amodu, who led Nigeria to the World Cup finals but whose departure after a third-place finish at the African Cup of Nations was not unexpected.