JOHN UTAKA JOINS FRENCH MONTPELLIER AS COACH

Former Nigeria international John Utaka has joined the league of Nigerian coaches outside the country with French League 1 side Montpellier.

Utaka who was part of the only Montpellier league winning team in 2011/2012 season with three points lead of PSG to win the title. He scored two goals in their last game of season 2-1 win against Auxerre.

The 38 year-old former Super Eagles striker has been named coach to handle the U19 team of the club in the new capacity.

Utaka will resume training with the group (team) after the easing of the lockdown in France with the responsibility to coach the youngsters to the first team. He has also been given the responsibility to act as one of the assistant coaches at  the club.

Meanwhile Utaka has been congratulated by his pet team, Utaka FC Academy on his new role as coach of Montpellier U19. In a message statement by the John Utaka FC Academy

‘It was with great pleasure that I learned of the appointment of John Chukwudi Utaka as a youth team coach in Montpellier HSc of France. Allow me to congratulate you most warmly both on my behalf and on behalf of the John Utaka Football Academy family,” the statement read.

The speed racer former Nigerian international would fondly be remembered for his winning goal for Super Eagles in the 2-1 win against defending champion, Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the quarter final match of AFCON 2004 in Tunisia. He won bronze with the Super Eagles in their winning feat against Mali.

He also achieved same feat winning bronze two years later in Egypt against   Teranga Lions of Senegal in 2006 AFCON. third placed encounter.

With the appointment, John Utaka joins the league of Nigerian international players with coaching role outside the country including Emmanuel Amuneke, Austin Eguavoen and late Stephen Keshi who won the Nations Cup as a player and coach. He also qualify Togo to AFCON 2006 and World Cup finals in Germany same year.