Former Super Eagles winger, John Utaka says his he will like to one day be the first African to win the European biggest club competing (UEFA Champions League) as a manager, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Almost a half a decade after his retirement from club football, the Nigeria international in 2020 was hired by French club, Montpelier to work as an assistant coach for their U-19 team.
The 41 year-old who was part of Nigeria’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Korea and Japan, had since improved his knowledge of the game by gaining his UEFA A license in 2022 and is now working towards in UEFA pro badge.
“If the opportunity comes to coach a team in Europe, I will embrace it,” Utaka told DW via Dialy Post.
“My dream is to win the trophies that I didn’t win as a player. I want to win them as a coach. We’ve never had an African coach win the Champions League. That is a goal for me.”
Utaka, who is now into coaching won the English FA Cup with Portsmouth in 2008. He also scored six goals in 49 appearances for the Super Eagles between 2001 to 2012.
By Olujimi Dare Ogun
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