John Utaka may not have achieved Champions League glory during his playing career, but the former
Nigerian winger is determined to go one better as a coach. The 41-year-old has taken up the role of
assistant manager at his former club Le Havre AC in France and is now hoping to lead them all the way
to Europe’s top club competition. Utaka made more than 200 appearances for various clubs in Europe
before retiring and setting his sights on a career in coaching. “I’ve always felt that I had something to
offer,” he said. “My experiences as a player have served me well and now I want to use that knowledge
to help the team succeed.”
Utaka has been in charge of Le Havre’s youth teams since 2016 and was promoted to the senior squad
earlier this year. He is now determined to guide his new side to their first-ever Champions League
appearance. “It would be a dream come true,” he said. “I have the utmost respect for this club and I’m
confident that with hard work and dedication, we can get to where we want to be.” Utaka is a much-
loved figure amongst Le Havre fans and they will be cheering him on as he strives to make his
Champions League dream a reality. With his considerable experience in the game and vast knowledge of
the club, Utaka could be just the man to lead Le Havre to success. Time will tell if his ambitions are
realized.
