Emmanuel Amuneke, the former Nigerian international and Barcelona winger, is poised to return to coaching after a year away from the sidelines, according to Sportblog247.com.

Following an unsuccessful bid for the Super Eagles head coach position, which was filled by Finidi George before his recent resignation, Amuneke is now on the verge of joining Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) club Heartland FC.

Reports indicate that Amuneke has been selected for the role and is expected to be formally announced soon. He has already begun preparations with his hometown club, including player recruitment for the upcoming season.

Heartland FC, which finished 19th in the 20-team table last season and was relegated to the NPFL, is reportedly looking to secure the league slot of Beyond Limits, who face participation challenges despite earning promotion from the Nigeria National League (NNL) due to their affiliation with Remo Stars.

Amuneke, 53, brings a wealth of coaching experience to Heartland FC, having previously managed clubs like Julius Berger and Ocean Boys in Nigeria. He achieved notable success by guiding the Nigeria U17 team to a World Cup victory in 2015 and later led Tanzania to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. His coaching journey also includes stints with Egypt’s Misr El Makkasa and roles as assistant coach for Nigeria’s national team.