By Promise Eze
Former Nigeria international, John Chukwudi Utaka, has recently announced his intentions to coach Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the near future.
Utaka, who is a former Super Eagles star and retired footballer, has played for thirteen different clubs throughout his professional career, which spanned three continents.
The 41-year-old attacker played for several notable clubs in Europe, including Portsmouth, Montpellier, and Sivasspor, and also represented Nigeria at the international level, featuring in the 2002 and 2010 World Cup tournaments.
Since retiring from football in 2018, Utaka has been actively involved in coaching and is now working towards earning his UEFA Pro badge. In 2022, he obtained his UEFA A licence, which is a necessary qualification to coach at the professional level in Europe.
Speaking about his ambitions to coach the Super Eagles, Utaka expressed his love for the Nigerian national team and his desire to lead them to success.
He also cited his experience as a player and his coaching qualifications as reasons why he believes he would be a good fit for the role.
“If the opportunity comes to coach Nigeria in the near future, that is something I would love to embrace as well because that is another way to give back and show your experience with your own country as well,” Utaka said.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have a rich footballing history and are currently ranked 32nd in the FIFA world rankings. The team has won the African Cup of Nations three times and has qualified for the World Cup six times, making them one of the most successful national teams in Africa.
