Super Eagles and Fulham winger Samuel Chukwueze has revealed he wouldn’t take on a managerial role in football when he hangs up his boots, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 26-year-old is currently on International duty with the Nigerian National team in Morocco, as the three-time AFCON winners look to add a fourth trophy to their cabinet.
Before the AFCON 2025 tournament kicked off, the AC Milan loanee was in good form for Marco Silva’s side, scoring two goals and providing three assists in his final five games for the Cottagers.
He’s taken the same form into Morocco as well, providing two assists for Raphael Onyedika in Nigeria’s final group game against Uganda.
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Samuel Chukwueze shuts the door on managerial role after retirement
In a discourse featuring other Fulham teammates like Josh King, Joachim Anderson, Jorge Cuenca, and Emile Smith-Rowe, the former Villarreal attacker argued that coaches have a more difficult job than the players.
While they disagreed, Chukwueze mentioned that the most involvement he’ll have in football will come in his time as a footballer. Once he retires, he’s taking the back seat.
“It’s more difficult because they don’t sleep, they crack their head every night. Imagine being a manager, you age quickly,” the fleet-footed winger told Sky Sports Premier League.
“You have to think about a lot of things: putting the players first, arranging the first eleven every week, and having so many fantastic players,” Chukwueze continued.
“The tactical side is there too, watching clips. You arrive at 7 a.m. and leave by 12 midnight. Imagine being in that situation.
“Then, on the touchline, you have to scream at the players. You’ll have to take Panadol, paracetamol every time you go home.
“For me, I think it’s the hardest work. If I end my career, everything about football is finished, done.
English youngster Josh King disagreed with the Nigerian’s opinions, claiming the pressure is on the players to deliver on the pitch, not as much on the coach.
“I think playing is hard because we’re the ones actually doing the work on the pitch; there’s pressure.
“The manager can’t impact the outcome; we’re the ones doing it on the pitch, so I feel like it’s harder. Without us, the manager will not have a job,” the 19-year-old said.
Chukwueze then concluded by saying coaches get booted out after a rough patch by the club hierarchy, not the players.
“You’re on the pitch to do your job. Check it this way, when you lose a game, who gets sacked? The coach, no?
“They don’t sack you. His work is more difficult. Every night, he just hopes and prays his players do the right thing,” the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner concluded.
Winning the AFCON tournament is paramount for Chukwueze, as he wants to do one better for the Super Eagles after the heartache in Ivory Coast two years ago.