Mutiu Adepoju: Former Real Madrid and Super Eagles Attacker Names His Biggest Career Regret

• Mutiu Adepoju was the first Nigerian player to don the white colours of Spanish La Liga powerhouse, Real Madrid
• The 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner also featured for several other Spanish clubs, including Real Sociedad
• The retired Nigerian attacker has disclosed what he dubs his biggest regret of his career in a recent interview

Mutiu Adepoju's illustrious 18-year career saw the former Nigerian forward play for a variety of clubs.

The 53-year-old, throughout his trophy-laden career, donned the white of Real Madrid and also played for other Spanish clubs, including Real Sociedad and Racing Santander.

Adepoju was an integral part of the Super Eagles team that saw Nigeria reach their first-ever World Cup in 1994 and clinched the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) crown that same year.

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However, 'Headmaster', as he is fondly called, appears to still harbour a few regrets despite what was undoubtedly a hugely successful career.

The La Liga ambassador, in a recent interview, disclosed what he considers his biggest career regrets.

Adepoju speaks on his biggest career regret

In a chat with Sports Brief, the 53-year-old took time to reminisce about his playing career and identified the moment when he missed out on making his senior team debut with Real Madrid as the biggest regret of his career.

“I would say that I really wanted to play for the Real Madrid senior team, but sadly, an injury came. I would say that is the biggest regret of my career.”

When quizzed about what hampered what would have been his first-team debut with Los Blancos, Headmaster continued:

"It was a very long issue, though. During my time as a footballer, unlike now, foreign players were only afforded three slots within a team. During my time, Real Madrid already had three senior players who were foreigners on their team. I was just returning from the U20 team of Nigeria, and I was a foreigner, so it was difficult for me.

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"They had a lot of big players, including Gheorghe Hagi and the likes. The issue was just the number of foreign players allowed. In my third year, I had an opportunity to play with the senior team of Real Madrid, but I got injured a week before I got to play.

"Then I got an offer after my injury from Racing Santander. I remember when we met during the previous season, I scored a hat trick and we won by four goals, so they came to sign me. And thankfully to God, in my first season with Racing Santander, we got promoted to the first division."

Adepoju later transferred to Real Sociedad after four seasons with Racing Santander, eventually ending his illustrious career in 2006 with Segunda club, CD Cobena, per footballdatabase.eu.

Adepoju speaks on Finidi George

Sports Brief also previously repoted on Adepoju urged the NFF not to part ways with Finidi George as Super Eagles manager.

The 53-year-old emphasised the importance of giving the coach time, especially following the defeat to the Republic of Benin.