EXCLUSIVE: Dragan Stojkovic shortlisted to succeed Otto Addo as Black Stars coach
The Black Stars head coach role has become vacant after Otto Addo announced decision to leave for club work in Germany.
Ghana, during their 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff had Otto Addo in their dugout as a part-time manager due to his decision not to work for Ghana at the long run. Otto believed his future to become the first Black or African to manage Borussia Dortmund is paramount than national team job, hence refused a long term contract with the West African Country.
The 47-year-old despite all these, got appointed as Ghana coach for the Mundial, thus 2022 FIFA World Cup.
He was surrendered by George Boateng and MASAWUDU Didi Dramani as assistant one and two respectively.
Veteran gaffer Chris Hughton was called upon to serve as technical advisor for the Black Stars.
The four-time African champions bow out of the World Cup, after winning just a game in Group H following a 3-2 defeat to Portugal and 2-0 against Uruguay.
Ghana managed to beat South Korea 3-2 but failed to draw with Uruguay for qualification.
Otto Addo who is a talent developer for Borussia Dortmund will return to the Bundesliga side after December 31, 2022 were his deal with the Ghana Football Association ends. He has made it public his decision to leave, hence, leaving Ghana coaching role vacant.
The Ghana Football Association though did not advertise the role of a coach but opted to hand pick who takes over Black Stars as next gaffer.
According to Accra-based media outlet, Asempa FM, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has shortlisted six managers and gone ahead to hold talks with them to take-over Black Stars coaching job.
Among the list, is former Chelsea FC manager and UEFA Champions League winner from Germany Thomas Tuchel. The three back preferred tactician previously managed Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain before ending up in London with Chelsea FC.
He won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea FC in his first season, thus 2020-21 having played in the final the previous season with PSG but lost to Bayern Munich.
The list has two members of the technical team that led Ghana to their fourth FIFA World Cup campaign in Qatar included.
George Boateng and Chris Hughton are both in line for the role, having held talks with the Association.
Boateng born in Ghana but played for the Holland national team, last handled Aston Villa’s Under 23 team. During his playing days, he made name for himself at Feyenoord, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa. He’s being considered for the position as next Black Stars coach.
Christopher William Hughton: Having served as technical advisor to Otto Addo at Black Stars, the GFA is optimistic he has a lot to offer the national team should they entrust the team to him. Previously, the trainer who has a Ghanaian descent managed Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur all in the Premier league.
Paulo George Gomez Bento: The Portuguese trainer has appeared on the wanted list of the Ghana Football Association for the Black Stars position. The 53-year old has previously managed Sporting CP, Olympiacos and the Portugal national team.
Currently, he is the Head Coach of South Korea. He led the side to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Tom Saintfiet: He is a Belgian football coach and former player. He was appointed as manager of the Gambian national team in July 2018.
At age 49, Tom has managed Young Africans, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Togo, Bangladesh and Malta.
With vast experience on the African soil, Tom has his name included to succeed Otto Addo as trainer for the 2015 African Cup of Nations finalists.
Last on the list is Dragan Stojkovic. He was hired on March 2021, as coach of Serbia’s national soccer team, three weeks before the squad’s first qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup.
The 55-year-old Stojkovic replaced Ljubisa Tumbakovic, who was fired in December after the team failed to qualify for the European Championship in the playoffs
He is on the radar of the Ghana Football Association for the Black Stars job.
Ghana having failed to impress at the Mundial will now turn attention to the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, were they would have to compensate their fans with qualification to the tournament slated for Ivory Coast.
Story Kolog Bonaventure
