Otto Addo Returns To Black Stars Job

Former Ghana International Otto Addo will return to his former job with the Black Stars after quitting in December 2022 to focus on his role at Borussia Dortmund.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) settled on the 48-year-old as the next head coach for the Senior National team after sacking Chris Hughton and has secured his release clause from the Bundesliga side.

In a statement, the FA said he will be on a three-year contract with Ghana permanently effective in May with an option for a further 24 months.

The President of the GFA, Kurt Okraku says he was the choice of the Committee due to his distinguished posture during the interview process.

“There were some brilliant individuals among the coaches who applied for the job, so the committee took the pain to interview a chunk of them to pick their thoughts on their intentions to transform the team within a short period of time due to our peculiar situation,” he justified.

He added, “The Committee was overly satisfied with Otto’s performance for which reason he was recommended to the Executive Council for approval.”

The statement further said Otto will be allowed by Borussia Dortmund to join Ghana for the March international window, after which he will travel back to the club to officially hand over and take up the job permanently in May this year.

Appointment In 2022
Otto Addo was appointed a deputy coach by Ghana during the appointment of head Coach Milovan Rajevac in September 2021. In February 2022 when the country parted ways with Milo as he was affectionally called, Otto was made the interim head coach.

His temporary administration over the Black Stars saw their qualification for the 2022 World Cup. He therefore earned a permanent but short appointment in May 2022 (until the end of December 2022) due to his job at Dortmund.

The Black Stars will hold two international friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda later this month. They will take on the Super Eagles on March 22 and The Cranes on March 26.

Ghana exited the World Cup at the Group Stage after losing two and winning one of their three games. He resigned immediately.

At Dortmund, Otto is a talent coach.

Hughton Departure
The need for a new head coach for the Black Stars became imperative after Chris Hughton was sacked in February following the team’s abysmal showpiece at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.