Ex-Nigerian international, John Chukwudi Utaka, has been appointed the U-19 coach of French Ligue One side, Montpellier. Utaka, 38, returns to the French side with ambition of gaining his coaching badge with the club’s youth set-up. This is Utaka’s second stint at the Stade de la Mosson after featuring for two-and-a-half years (2011-2013) with the La Paillade, helping them gain their first top flight title in the 2011-12 season. Utaka’s brace in the club’s 2-1 win over Auxerre was enough to lift the title on 12th of May\ 2012.
Read more about Super Eagles
While Utaka looks forward to his new position, he has received congratulatory messages from the Nigerian football world with the Nigerian national team leading the line via a Instagram post.
And the journey in coaching begins for John Utaka, the attacker with the Montpellier youth coach post. All the best poacher
Super Eagles
With this appointment, the former Porthsmouth FC of England star becomes the latest ex-Nigerian international to take up a professional coaching role, after former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo was recently named the new Super Eagles assistant coach. Yobo did not fail to congratulate his former brother in arms via an Instagram post.
Congratulations John Utaka on your appointment as the youth football team coach at French League 1 side Montpellier. I wish you every success bro
Joseph Yobo
Sign up to the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter
Utaka who bagged 6 goals in 46 appearances for the Super Eagles had a normadic playing career across Nigeria, Egypt (where he was top scorer in the 1999-00 Egyptian Premier League season with 17 goals), Qatar, France, England, and Turkey, before calling time on his career in 2018. His love for youth football saw him set up a football academy in Niger State, Nigeria with the name John Utaka Football Academy (JUFA), a set up that has transformed many grassroot players into professional stars.
Source:
Goal
Featured Image Source: Goal
Did you find this article useful? Contact us: editor at connectnigeria dot com
You might also like:
- Para-Powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo Sets New World Record
- Onyinyechi Mark Sets New World Record, Wins Nigeria’s First 2024 Paralympic Gold
- Gallant D’Tigress Bow Out of the Olympics
- D’Tigress Make Olympic History After Beating Canada
