Former Nigerian midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has debunked the rumours that he is interested in taking over the senior men’s national football team, Super Eagles job.
A newspaper (not Sporting Tribune) has linked Adepoju, known as ‘Headmaster’ during his playing days because of his precise header, to the most important football job in the country but the former Racing Santander of Spain player said he is not interested in managing the Super Eagles or any of the national teams anytime soon.
Adepoju, who was speaking during a radio program monitored by Sporting Tribune on Wednesday night in Abuja, said although he spoke to a Madrid Podcast in a recent interview, he said he never indicated an interest in the national team job but was quoted out of context by the newspaper.
“Yes, I had a podcast (interview) like 10 days or two weeks ago with ‘Managing Madrid Podcast’ where we spoke about my time in Madrid when I was playing in La Liga and all that and nothing came in talking about the Super Eagles job. I don’t think I want to do that (coaching age-grade national teams) at the moment.”
The former Real Sociedad playmaker frowned at Victor Osimhen’s disrespect of former coach, Finidi George, saying the 1995 UEFA Champions League deserves all the respect as a legend of the game.
“It’s something I’m very sad about. It shouldn’t have come to that level. I believe Osimhen has a coach in his club too and everybody deserves respect. If anything happens and it’s from my own point of view, it is something that could have been settled or resolved amicably inside the dressing room and not ranting on the newspaper. I’m sure Osimhen is not going to rant about his coach publicly on social (media) if it were to be at his club in Napoli.
“I think everybody deserves respect. Finidi deserves respect. Finidi is a legend and he has done great things for this country if things do not work out in the national team do not mean that he should be disrespected. I’m not happy about that ranting. Things could have been resolved in a better way as I’ve said,” Adepoju said.
