Sone Aluko was announced as the first team coach of Ipswich Town, becoming the third former Nigeria international to have taken up top roles in the Premier League in recent times after Michael Emenalo and Seyi Olofinjana, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former Super Eagles forward thus joined Kieran McKenna’s backroom staff at the Premier League newcomers, where he played between August 2021 and May 2024.
The Hounslow, England-born 35-year-old announced his retirement from active football this summer.
He represented the various age-grade levels before switching international allegiance to Nigeria. He was a key member of the U20 and U23 teams before being promoted to the senior team, netting twice in seven outings with the Super Eagles between 2009 and 2015.
His appointment at Ipswich Town came on the back of former Nigeria midfielder Seyi Olofinjana taking up a major role at Chelsea as part of the club’s talent management team, which will hunt and manage talents across Africa on behalf of the Stamford Bridge-based giants.
The Ogbomosho-born was formerly involved with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he worked with their academy in 2015. He left Wolves for Swiss side Grasshopper Club Zürich in 2021, becoming their new sporting director, and resigned on June 20, 2022.
Former Nigeria wingback and member of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations Super Eagles team, Michael Emenalo, blazed the trail in 2011, when Chelsea appointed him as Technical Director of the club, completely restructuring their academy, scouting, loan, and women’s team setups. He is credited as a key figure behind the club’s success, having overseen the scouting and transfers of key players, including Juan Mata, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, N’Golo Kanté, and Eden Hazard.
He played the same role at French Ligue One side Monaco before becoming the first director of football for the Saudi Pro League.
https://punchng.com/aluko-third-ex-eagles-star-to-get-premier-league-role/
