John Utaka desires Super Eagles job after bagging UEFA A license

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Former Nigeria International, John Utaka says he loved to coach the senior men’s national team in the future.

English FA Cup winner with Portsmouth played for clubs across the continents during his playing days and hopes to translate his football talent to the coaching sphere.

Utaka, 41, stopped playing professional football after the 2017/2018 season.

The former RC Lens attacker is currently into coaching after he earned his UEFA A license in 2022, and he is now working towards earning his UEFA Pro badge.

“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 told Soccernet.

During his playing days, he joined French side, Rennes from RC Lens in the 2005/2006 season spending two seasons with the team.

From Lens, Utaka moved to the English side, Portsmouth where he teamed up with compatriot, Nwankwo Kanu and helped the tea win the FA Cup.

After four seasons with Portsmouth, Utaka joined French outfit, Montpellier in the 2010/2011 season from where he moved to Sivasspor (Turkey), and Aswan SC (Egypt). He also played for Sedan and Nogoom FC before his retirement.