Injuries have plagued Super Eagles star, Taiwo Awoniyi’s time at Nottingham Forest, and with his future at the club uncertain, the Nigerian forward is already planning for life after football.
The 27-year-old is currently enrolled in the PFA Business School’s Sporting Directorship course, a move that suggests he is preparing for a potential transition into football management or administration.
Awoniyi has struggled for regular minutes this season, having lost his starting spot to Chris Wood. He has managed just five starts in 25 appearances across all competitions, scoring twice. Earlier in the year, he was linked with a move away from Forest, with West Ham and Everton reportedly interested, but head coach Nuno Espírito Santo opted to keep him in the squad.
Since joining Forest in the summer of 2022, injuries have repeatedly stalled the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner’s progress. He has missed 50 games due to fitness issues, including groin surgery and a long-term layoff last season.
This has allowed Wood, initially signed on loan from Newcastle before making his move permanent, to establish himself as the club’s first-choice striker.
Taiwo Awoniyi following rare path for Super Eagles players
While many Nigerian players transition into coaching after retirement, very few have ventured into sporting director roles.
Michael Emenalo (former Chelsea, AS Monaco, and Saudi Pro League director) remains the most notable figure in this space.
Seyi Olofinjana also transitioned into football management, starting in coaching and development roles at Wolverhampton Wanderers before becoming the sporting director at Grasshoppers Zürich.
He later joined Chelsea, where he focuses on African talent management.
The PFA's Postgraduate Diploma in Global Football Sport Directorship is co-directed by former Spain international and Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, and “aims to provide aspiring sporting directors with specialised training in the most complex and technical subjects that have never been covered in any training programme previously.”
With Taiwo Awoniyi now studying for a career in football administration, he is following in their footsteps, possibly signalling an early end to his playing career.
