Soccer News of Friday, 5 November 2004

Source: --

Troussier -New Boss Of Ghana ?

Phillipe Troussier is set to become the new manager of Ghana, according to an unnamed ?highly placed? source.

The 49-year old Frenchman is expected to be named on the shortlist of the four that would be made public by Monday, November 15.

Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice-chairman, Kwesi Nyantekyi, already confirmed: 'Phillipe Troussier is being considered as our new manager.'

However, the ?highly placed? source told GhanaHomePage that Troussier looks almost certain to be offered the top role in Ghanaian football. ?He has been approached to take charge of the team and he has accepted, pending negotiation of terms" according to the source

Troussier made his name in the Ivory Coast with local side ASEC Abidjan before going on to coach Nigeria, Burkina Faso and South Africa. He managed Japan when they co-hosted the 2002 World Cup Finals and was most recently linked to Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Wales posts. He is still in the running for the Wales job. On Tuesday, he confirmed his interest in the post

Troussier built a reputation for eccentricity in Japan - a culture renowned for its extreme politeness, reservation, and understatement. He broke social taboos by yelling at players in public. He gets publicly emotional at games. He is also renowned for his aggression and in particular for his savage attitude to the media. He is hardly swayed by public opinion, corporations or peers.

Ghana has had a chequered history with foreign coaches lately, and whoever is appointed will be the fifth foreigner in charge of the Black Stars in the last two years.

The job was made vacant following the shock departure of Portuguese trainer Mariano Barreto, after the Ghana-Cape Verde Island World Cup qualifier at the Kumasi Sports Stadium barely two months ago. The stars won the match 2-0.