Ghana go to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup under manager Otto Addo. He is a coach whom Manchester City striker Erling Haaland credits for making him a star at Borussia Dortmund.
Addo took over the Black Stars’ helm this February and led the West Africans to qualify for the World Cup. He had worked as Milovan Rajevac’s assistant coach since last July. But the 47-year-old took full control after Ghana Football Association (GFA) fired Rajevac in March.
The GFA terminated Rajevac’s tenure after crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations last in Group C. Ghana failed to win a single game at the tournament and suffered a 3-2 defeat to the tiny Comoros Islands. The Black Stars went on to beat Nigeria for a spot at Qatar 2022.
Otto Addo led Ghana to 2022 World Cup qualification on away goals
Addo oversaw his first match as Ghana’s manager in a 0-0 first-leg draw with Nigeria in the CAF third-round 2022 World Cup qualifiers. A 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture saw the Black Stars reach Qatar on away goals. Thomas Partey’s 10th-minute effort proved to be enough.
Ghana have since taken three wins, another draw and two defeats in their next six fixtures under Addo. The Black Stars play a last friendly before the World Cup with a match against Switzerland on November 17. They take on Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in Group H.
Qatar 2022 marks Ghana’s fourth World Cup appearance but Addo’s first as a manager. He played two games at the 2006 edition in Germany as the Black Stars debuted on the global stage. The Hamburg, Germany native amassed 15 caps as a midfielder from 1999 to 2006.
Erling Haaland credits Otto Addo with making him a star at Borussia Dortmund
Addo doubles his Ghana duties with working as a talent development trainer with Borussia Dortmund. He returned to the position in July 2021 after a brief spell as the assistant first-team boss to Edin Terzic since December. BVB initially hired Addo as a trainer in July 2019.
The German-born midfielder has often worked as a trainer since retiring as a player back in 2008. Hamburg SV appointed Addo as an U19 coach a year after he hung up his boots with Die Rothosen. He later stepped up to the manage the club’s U19 squad from 2010 to 2015.
Ghana appreciated Addo’s work at Hamburg and also hired him as a scout between 2013 and 2015. He went on to serve as Kasper Hjulmand’s assistant at Nordsjaelland from 2016 to 2017. Addo returned to Germany as a trainer at Borussia Monchengladbach until 2019.
Manchester City forward Haaland credits Addo with making him a star whilst together at Borussia Dortmund. The Ghana boss joined BVB as a trainer five months before the Signal Iduna Park outfit paid RB Salzburg £17m to trigger a release clause in the striker’s contract.
“That’s the biggest legend. If we talk about the biggest legends in this club, this guy, he’s the best one,” Haaland stated, via quotes by Ghana Soccernet, this June. “He is the best.”
Erling Haaland has taken Otto Addo’s teachings to England and ran with them
Haaland joined Borussia Dortmund at 19 years old and went on to score 86 goals across 89 games there. He also laid on 23 assists in all competitions before Manchester City paid his £51m release clause. The Daily Mail claims he now gets over £850k-a-week after bonuses.
The 22-year-old, born in Leeds, has brought Addo’s teachings with him to England and ran with them. Haaland scored 22 goals and three assists over his first 16 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side. His haul includes three hat-tricks with one hit against Manchester United.
Haaland has also recorded 21 goals and three assists over 23 appearances for Norway. But the forward did not score his first senior international goal before his third appearance. By then, Haaland had joined Borussia Dortmund and spent nine months training under Addo.
Otto Addo may quit his job as Ghana’s manager after the 2022 World Cup
Addo clearly enjoys his work with Borussia Dortmund as the coach has hinted he could quit as Ghana’s manager after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The former Hannover 96, BVB, FSV Mainz and Hamburg SV ace does not see the Black Stars getting his full attention just yet.
“I think, as a national [team] coach, you should also live in the country you work for in the long term,” Addo told Ruhr14, via quotes by Ghana Web. “But I see myself, personally, in Germany in the next few years.”
Ghana start their 2022 World Cup campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974, also known as Ras Abu Aboud Stadium. They visit the Education City Stadium to face South Korea on the 28th and lastly, take on Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium on December 2.
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