By Safiu Kehinde
The vacant managerial role of the Ghanaian National Team is on the verge of being filled ahead of World Cup Play-off as former Tottenham’s boss Chris Hughton is reportedly leading the race for the job.
Though pitched alongside Hughton were Borussia Dortmund’s assistant coach, Otto Addo, and Aston Villa’s U23 manager, George Boateng, the versatile English Premier League manager stands a better chance of getting the job, considering his experience and career.
Chris Hughton was once a footballer who played as a left back. He spent most of his active playing career at Tottenham Hotspur. After spending 13 years at the White Hart Lane, Hughton enjoyed a brief stint at West Ham United and Brentford before hanging his boot in 1993 at the age of 34. It was not long before he embarked on his managerial career which started at Tottenham Hotspur- just as his playing career.
After 14 years as coach and assistant coach at Tottenham, Hughton moved to Newcastle United as Caretaker Manager in 2008. He would later be axed from the club despite returning them to the Premier League during his first season with the club. Spending just a season at Birmingham after leaving Newcastle, Chris Hughton was unveiled as Norwich boss in 2012.
Another poor run saw him left Norwich in 2014 and join Championship side, Brighton & Hove Albion. After three years with the Seagulls, Hughton led them to a first Premier League promotion in their history. His two seasons at the Premier League, thereafter, saw his team fighting to survive the relegation zone. This led to his dismissal in 2019.
His last managerial role was with Nottingham Forest which he joined in October 2020. He barely spent one year at the club before being sacked in September, 2021. Ever since then, Chris Hughton has been out of job. The vacant Ghana role had seen him flew to the West African country for a possible offer.
Aside his years of experience, Chris Hughton is also of Ghanaian roots. He is the son of a Ghanaian postman, Willie Hughton and his Irish wife, Christine.
Meanwhile, Ghana and Nigeria both crashed out of the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament, they will face each other in the two-legged World Cup Play-off.
Ghana’s AFCON campaign hit the hills right from the group stage. The Black Stars endured a nightmarish outing in Cameroon and could only amass a point out of the three group matches.
On the other hand, their arch-rivals Nigeria fell from grace to grass. Despite recording 100% win at the group stage, the Super Eagles fell flat in the hands of Tunisia who sent them packing from Cameroon after a narrow win.
