Lagerback saw off competition from compatriot Sven-Goran Eriksson for the role, while another former England boss, Glenn Hoddle, was also in pole position until Lagerback was interviewed by the Nigerian Football Federation on Friday.

NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told Press Association Sport: "In the early hours of this morning we appointed Lars Lagerback."

Olajire admitted Lagerback had pipped Hoddle and former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu to the job.

He said: "Previously Bruno Metsu was ahead, Glenn Hoddle took over on Wednesday but in the end it was Lagerback, who (was interviewed) last, who won it.

"He has now signed a five-month contract to take Nigeria to the World Cup."

Lagerback succeeds Shaibu Amodu as coach of the Super Eagles after they finished third at the African Nations Cup in Angola last month.

The Swede will watch Nigeria's friendly against DR Congo on Wednesday and will be based in Nigeria from next month until the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Lagerback has huge experience of international coaching. He was co-coach of Sweden at Euro 2000 alongside Tommy Soderberg and led the team outright from the summer of 2004 until 2009, when he resigned following the failure to qualify for the World Cup.