Former Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton has been named the new coach of Ghana, the country’s football association announced.
The appointment was made after “extensive deliberations between the two parties,” said a Sunday statement from the association.
The 64-year-old Hughton moves over from his role of technical advisor, working last year with inexperienced coach Otto Addo at the World Cup in Qatar.
Addo had no previous senior coaching experience but has been working at youth level in Germany for more than a decade and was asked to step in as caretaker for the World Cup qualifying playoff against Nigeria last March. Hughton, whose father was born in Ghana and was visiting the country at the time, was asked to help.
Ghana scraped through that Nigeria tie, with some fortune, and the coaching team was kept in place for the World Cup, with Addo making clear he would return to his work at Borussia Dortmund after the tournament in Qatar.
Hughton, whose playing career saw him at fullback for Tottenham Hotspur and the Republic of Ireland, worked as Addo’s advisor throughout, including at the World Cup finals.
Former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough midfielder and Dutch international George Boateng remains assistant coach.
“Details about the duration of the contract and terms of engagement would be announced in due course, the Ghana FA added.
Ghana play home and away against Angola next month as the qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations finals next January continue.