Former Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has reaffirmed his ambition to return to coaching, insisting that his passion for the game remains strong despite his dismissal from Ghana’s national team post in March 2026.
Addo, speaking publicly for the first time since his departure, revealed that he is eager to return to the dugout, either as a head coach or in an assistant coaching role, as he continues to pursue his career in football management.
In an interview with German publication 11 Freunde, the former Borussia Dortmund assistant coach reflected on his future plans and made it clear that his coaching journey is far from over.
“I am at a certain age now [that] I do believe that I want to continue as a coach or assistant coach,” Addo said.
“Being an assistant coach will also bring me a lot of joy and, of course, in certain areas I would naturally like to prove myself as a coach.”
Addo’s second stint as Ghana coach came to an end after the Black Stars suffered four successive friendly defeats against South Korea, Japan, Germany and Austria.
The poor run of results led to his dismissal despite his success in guiding Ghana to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The German-born Ghanaian coach had previously achieved a major milestone by securing qualification for both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, but his tenure was also marked by disappointment after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Looking back on his exit, Addo admitted the period after his dismissal was difficult but said the overwhelming support he received from players and football figures provided him with significant encouragement.
He revealed that he received more than 50 messages from current and former players, including members of the squad he worked with during Ghana’s 2022 World Cup campaign.
“That naturally made me happy. I received calls; I think in total I counted over 50 WhatsApp messages because even old players from 2022 got in touch,” Addo said.
“Even players who weren’t invited got in touch.”
“After I was fired, I received many messages, very long messages too. I received the messages. It made me very happy and that for me was the best validation.”
The messages, according to Addo, served as confirmation that his work and leadership had earned the respect of those he coached, despite the challenges and criticism that accompanied his time in charge of the Black Stars.
With his experience at both club and international level, including his role as an assistant coach at Borussia Dortmund, Addo believes he still has much to offer and is preparing for his next opportunity in football management.
For now, the 50-year-old remains focused on finding the right project where he can continue developing players, implementing his ideas and proving himself once again on the touchline.
