Former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amuneke has been appointed as the new head coach of Heartland Football Club, Soccernet.ng reports.
The announcement was made at the Imo State government house in Owerri on Monday.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma highlighted the significance of Amuneke's appointment, stating,
“Amunike’s remarkable career has made us incredibly proud, and his return to our State in this new role brings a wave of optimism. Heartland FC has faced a series of challenges in recent seasons, but this appointment marks a renewed commitment to revitalise the club.”
He continued, “With Amunike’s wealth of experience and indigeneship to the State, I am confident that this will be a turning point for Heartland FC, guiding it back to its winning ways and reigniting our collective passion for the team.”
Heartland FC experienced relegation at the end of the 2023–2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season. However, the club secured a spot in the NPFL for the 2024–2025 season by acquiring the slot of Beyond Limits FC, Lagos.
Official: Imo State Governor unveiled Ex -International Emmanuel Amunike as @HeartlandFC_ng New Technical Adviser ahead of New NPFL Season. pic.twitter.com/xNDX9hsDtN
— NPFL Insert (@NPFL_INSERT) August 5, 2024
Amuneke, who retired from international football in 2004, enjoyed a storied career with the Super Eagles, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994.
After retirement, Amuneke took to coaching and led Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to victory in the 2015 U-17 World Cup, nurturing future stars like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze.
In 2018, Amuneke was appointed manager of Tanzania’s national team, successfully guiding them to their first African Cup of Nations (AFCON) appearance in over two decades in 2019.
His coaching journey continued with Misr El-Makkasa in 2021 before he joined the Super Eagles as an assistant coach in 2022.
Earlier this year, Amuneke was considered a strong candidate to succeed Jose Peseiro as head coach of the Super Eagles.
However, the Nigeria Football Federation opted for Finidi George, who subsequently resigned after a brief and unsuccessful tenure.
We Nigeria has no hope any more in football. The football house has no idea of his to get out from football failure that has lurked against us for years. Small countries who were our babies in football are now our masters. But the painful thing is that the football house has no problem in that. They go about making.their. money.