Published
on
at
By
John Utaka, 43, takes over from outgoing manager Frédéric Mendy and will share coaching duties with Baptiste Merle until the end of the season, working under the supervision of sporting director Jean-Louis Saez.
The appointment makes Utaka the only African head coach in France’s top-tier women’s league.
Utaka has a long history with Montpellier, having played a key role in the men’s team’s 2011-2012 Ligue 1 title win, scoring twice in the final match to secure the club’s first championship.
He returned in 2020 as a youth team attacking coach and briefly managed the women’s side in 2021.
After retiring in 2018, Utaka earned his UEFA A Licence in 2022 and most recently served as assistant coach for Montpellier’s U-19 men’s team.
Montpellier’s women are currently fifth in Division 1 Féminine with 27 points from 19 matches, 11 points behind third-placed Bordeaux. PSG and Lyon occupy the top two positions.
Utaka will also reunite with the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winner and Super Falcons Forward Ifeoma Onumonu, who joined the club earlier this year.
Note that the retired Nigerian international has played for clubs in Nigeria, Egypt, Qatar, France, England, and Turkey before he switched to coaching.
Wales Euro 2025 Team Involved In Bus Crash
Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi Sets Record In France
Ajax Uses WhatsApp Group Chat To Sack Chuba Akpom, Six Others, Players’ Union React
French Tourist Found Dead In Benue
Kylian Mbappe Helps France Win UEFA Nations League Bronze
Wilfred Ndidi Gifts Car To Former Coach Nduka Ugbade
Copyright © 2025 Naija News. All rights reserved.

source