Former Ghana Premier League star Charles Taylor has thrown his weight behind the appointment of Michael Essien as the next coach for the Black Stars, urging the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to seriously consider the former midfield maestro.
With the search for a new head coach for the senior national team still ongoing following the departure of Chris Hughton after Ghana’s disappointing performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, Taylor believes that Essien is the best candidate for the job.
Although there are rumors suggesting that Otto Addo is the frontrunner for the job, Taylor has made it clear that he thinks Essien’s experience and leadership qualities make him a more suitable choice.
Having played for Ghana’s two biggest clubs, Taylor is of the opinion that Addo’s previous stint as Black Stars coach did not yield satisfactory results, and it is time to give Essien and his fellow 2006 World Cup squad members a chance.
Speaking to Accra-based Onua FM, Taylor expressed, “Nothing good will come from Otto Addo. He has coached the team before, and there is nothing positive you could pinpoint from his first stint. Does that mean we should consider all past coaches who qualified us for the World Cup?”
Taylor also recommended that Essien, Stephen Appiah, and Laryea Kingston would bring discipline and experience to the Black Stars coaching setup. He believes that these former players have what it takes to revive Ghanaian football and get the team back on track.
“We must know that the right people are available to revive Ghana football. I would suggest that we consider Michael Essien for the coaching job. Essien together with Stephen Appiah and Laryea Kingston are bold former players who will stand their ground and instill discipline in the playing body,” Taylor said.
