The former Barcelona star enjoyed success at the highest level during his playing days and is hoping to repeat the same as a coach
Misr Lel Makkasa Football Director Emmanuel Amuneke has revealed that he applied for coaching jobs in La Liga. Still, the former Golden Eaglets boss is unhappy that Spanish clubs have snubbed him despite his qualifications.
Amuneke took to coaching after drawing the curtains on a successful playing career that saw him win the Afcon with the Super Eagles in 1994 and Olympic gold medal with Nigeria’s Dream Team two years later.
The 1993 African Footballer of the Year quickly undertook his coaching courses, earning UEFA ‘B’ and ‘A’ licences.
The latter licence allows holders to be head coaches of youth teams up to age 18, reserve teams (also known as ‘B’ teams) for top-flight clubs, and men’s professional second-tier clubs.
But despite Amuneke’s qualification, his satisfactory history as a former Barcelona star and a Copa del Rey winner, the former Nigeria international has found opportunities to coach in Spain hard to come by.
Two unnamed La Liga teams and one from the Segunda reportedly snubbed Amuneke, and the former Tanzania national team coach is bewildered by the situation.
“We all understand the situation in Europe,” Amuneke told PUNCH.
“They find it difficult to give the confidence to a black man to coach in their league.
“It’s very annoying and frustrating that you did your coaching qualification in Spain, but when it comes to the opportunity, you are not getting.
“But at the same time, you cannot lose hope in what you believe; you just have to stick to your plan.”
Amuneke guided Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to glory at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and has since managed Sudan’s Al Khartoum, the Tanzania senior national team, and Egypt’s Misr Lel Makkasa.
