Cape Town, Dec 4 : Former world footballer Ruud Gullit Friday dismissed speculation that he was close to signing as Nigeria coach for the 2010 World Cup.

The 47-year-old Dutchman Gullit said there has been no formal approach from Nigeria.

"There is a lot of speculation ... Nigeria also presently have a coach," he said.

Nigeria's Super Eagles only qualified for the 2010 finals on the last day after Tunisia sensationally lost their final qualifier to Mozambique.

The mediocre qualifying campaign fueled speculation that the Nigerian Football Federation will get rid of Amodu Shaibu and instead hire a high-profile foreign coach like Gullit.

Gullit, who captained the Netherlands to the Euro 1988 title, was in South Africa as a guest of the joint Netherlands/Belgium bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

He has coached clubs including Chelsea, Feyenoord Rotterdam and Los Angles Galaxy as well as the Dutch under-21 team. He has been out of the job since August 2008.(DPA)