Ghana coach Otto Addo has explained why he returned to lead the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars.
The former Ghana international replaced Irish-Ghanaian tactician Chris Hughton in March following the Black Stars unimpressive performance at the 2023 AFCON, where Ghana bowed out at the group stage.
He returns to work with a 34-month contract that can be extended by an additional two years.
Speaking to FIFA media, Otto Addo disclosed he thought he was ready to take the next step of his coaching career and for that matter, had to accept the Black Stars coaching job.
“The first time I came I got a release from Borussia Dortmund [where I worked as a talent coach] to join for six months, but under the commitment that I had to come back”
He continued that, “I played for Dortmund for six years and coached for five years, so it was very important to keep that relationship and my promise. Ghana then came again to ask me if I can join them on a regular basis, so it was a different discussion and my contract was ending in 2025”
“I thought I was ready to take the next step, so when I heard Ghana were interested again, I had to talk to Dortmund. I was very, very happy that [the Sporting Director] Sebastian Kehl allowed me to leave the club and that they could understand my readiness to develop myself and to go to the next step as a head coach” he added.
Otto Addo had a brief spell with the Black Stars in 2022 as he steered the teams’ qualification to the World Cup tournament in Qatar. He led Ghana at the biggest soccer mundial but unfortunately, the team bowed out at group stage.
The 49-year-old returned to Dortmund after the World Cup tournament.
He has already led the Black Stars in four games after a stunning return. He picked one win and one defeat in his first two friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda in March.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars recorded back to back wins in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, defeating Mali and Central Africa Republic respectively.