Ghana hire Chris Hughton as new national team boss
Ghana hire Chris Hughton as the former Brighton and Newcastle boss moves into international management and takes up first head coach role since being sacked by Nottingham Forest in 2021
- Chris Hughton hired after ‘extensive deliberations’ between the two parties
- Former Brighton and Newcastle boss had been on technical staff for World Cup
- First games will double header against Angola in AFCON 2023 qualification
Chris Hughton has been hired by Ghana as the new national team head coach.
The former Newcastle and Brighton boss was a technical advisor to the Black Stars for the World Cup and replaces Otto Addo, who left after the tournament in Qatar.
Announcing his appointment, the Ghana FA said it was a ‘pleasure’ to have hired Hughton and said it was in line with their ambition of building a ‘formidable’ squad.
‘The Ghana Football Association has the pleasure to appoint Chris Hughton as Head Coach of the Black Stars following extensive deliberations between the two parties,’ they said in a statement.
‘The appointment is in line with the vision of the GFA to continue with the project of building a formidable squad that started with Otto Addo in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament.
Chris Hughton (R) has been appointed Ghana’s new head coach having been on the technical staff during the World Cup
Hughton played 53 times for the Republic of Ireland and was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup
‘The GFA has also decided to maintain Assistant Coaches George Boateng and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani.’
Ghana finished bottom of their World Cup group, behind Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Born in England but having represented the Republic of Ireland in his playing days, the Ghana job marks Hughton’s first foray into international management.
He has previously taken charge of a host of clubs, enjoying success with both Newcastle and Brighton – taking them both up from the Championship, in 2009-10 and 2016/17 respectively.
Hughton’s previous job in management was at Nottingham Forest. He left the club in September 2021, having overseen six defeats in their opening seven games of the season, three points adrift at the bottom.
Hughton takes over after Otto Addo vacated the role at the conclusion of the World Cup campaign
Forest eventually went up that season under Steve Cooper.
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday prior to the World Cup last autumn, Hughton admitted that he feels a connection to the country owing to his father, Willie, who left in the 1950s.
‘There’s no doubt that played a part,’ he said. ‘I do feel a strong connection to the country. So, when they asked if I was prepared to help, using my experience and knowledge, the answer was always going to be yes.’
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