Chris Hughton has been officially unveiled as the head coach of the Ghana male senior national team – the Black Stars – on an almost two-year contract.
The 64-year-old had recently worked as Black Stars Technical Advisor for a year, helping former boss Otto Addo to qualify and participate in the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup.
Taking up the Black Stars job means the 64-year-old is back in the dugout for the first time since leaving English side Nottingham Forest in September 2021.
Having been announced by the GFA on February 12, Hughton has signed to be Ghana boss until December 2024 and will be paid through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Hughton was born in England to Ghanaian father Willie (who recently passed away) from Jamestown Accra. He represented Northern Ireland as a player. He is a Uefa Pro License holder.
“I’ve been involved with the team for almost a year though in a different capacity…
“To represent Ghana and the Black Stars as the head coach is something I am incredibly proud of. It’s something I’ll give everything to make the team as successful as possible.
“I’ll give everything to make sure the communication and relationship I have with this association and the supporters,” the ex-Tottenham gaffer stated in his press engagement held at SG Mall in Kumasi on Monday.
For the first time since their World Cup exit on December 2, the Black Stars will be back on international duties this week. They host Angola in the first of back-to-back Group E games against Angola in the qualifiers for the Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Thursday, March 23. The reverse happens in Luanda four days later.
“Our game is about support – from the association, but mostly, the support from the huge array of fans we have and that starts with a very difficult game at Kumasi on Thursday,” Hughton noted.