Ghana’s Search for a New Manager
Ghana is on the verge of appointing a new manager, with former Germany head coach Joachim Low being considered as a potential candidate. The Black Stars have been without a manager for 75 days before their first World Cup group game against Panama on June 18, following the dismissal of Otto Addo after a series of four consecutive defeats.
Ghana, who are in England’s group, suffered a 2-1 loss to Germany in Stuttgart and a 5-1 defeat to Austria. This was preceded by losses to Japan and South Korea in November friendlies. However, there are signs that the crisis may be coming to an end, as reports suggest that Low, who led Germany to victory in the 2014 World Cup, is set to take over the role.
The 66-year-old is expected to sign a short-term contract as manager, earning €150,000 per month, with the deal ending after the World Cup. Low has been without a job since stepping down as Germany’s manager after 15 years in charge in 2021.
His final match in charge was a 2-0 defeat to England at Wembley during the last 16 of Euro 2020. As his tenure came to an end, fans were treated to some unusual moments, including Low playing with his nose and licking his hand. There were also instances where he was seen with his hand down his trousers.
If Low takes the position, he will have the chance to seek revenge against England in Ghana’s second group game on June 23. The Black Stars hope that Low can bring his tournament success to the team, as he was known for leading Germany to the latter stages of major international tournaments, except for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Low, who took over from Jurgen Klinsmann in 2006, guided Germany to a third-place finish at the 2010 World Cup, where they knocked out England. He also led them to two European Championship semi-finals and a final in 2008, where they lost 1-0 to Spain. In addition to winning the 2014 World Cup, Low also won the Confederations Cup in 2017.
Otto Addo, who was on his second stint as Ghana’s coach, was dismissed earlier this week. He had previously coached Ghana on an interim basis during much of 2022, including at the World Cup in Qatar, where they beat South Korea but were eliminated in the group stage.
On Monday night, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) issued a statement confirming the termination of Addo’s contract. They did not provide further details about the replacement or the reasons for the decision.
However, it is widely expected that Low will be the new manager, marking the end of his hiatus by taking on the head-coach position.
