Former Super Eagles winger John Utaka has stated his aim to become the first African coach to win the UEFA Champions League.
He revealed this in an interview with DW, saying he wouldn’t think twice about seizing the chance to lead a premier team in Europe.
Utaka, who with Portsmouth won the English FA Cup in 2008, is now involved in teaching.
In 2020, when he was signed by French club Montpelier to serve as an assistant coach for their U-19 team, the 41-year-old made his coaching debut.
Utaka, a member of the Nigerian team that competed in the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, has subsequently increased his game knowledge by earning his UEFA A license in 2022 and is currently pursuing his UEFA pro badge.
“If the opportunity comes to coach a team in Europe, I will embrace it,” Utaka told DW.
“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.”
