Former Franco-Cameroonian defender Samuel Umtiti wants to become a coach after retirement

Former France international of Cameroonian descent Samuel Umtiti has revealed he will take up lessons to become a coach following his retirement from professional football.

The former Barcelona defender recently called it a quit from football, bringing an end to his illustrious 13-year career.

Umtiti enjoyed a brilliant career, featuring for Barcelona and tasting World Cup glory with the French national team.

His journey could have been even brighter had it not been persistent injuries, calling it a quit at age 31. Umtiti parted ways with Ligue 1 side Lille at the end of last season, and despite attracting interest from clubs, the defender decided to retire from the game.

However, the 31-year-old footballer emphasized that he still has a deep passion for the game and intends to tie his future to a coaching career.

“I still have this passion for football… I’ve wanted to become a coach for a long time. I’m going to start getting the necessary diplomas and I hope to work on the coaching bench in the future,” Umtiti stated.

“I need to learn because being a coach is very different from being a player. I want to develop and be ready for this new role.”

Umtiti played for Lyon, Barcelona, Lecce, and Lille, making 440 appearances, scoring 13 goals and providing eight assists. He capped 31 times for the France national team, with whom he celebrated World Cup glory in 2018.