- Kotoko's appointment of the 64-year-od Portuguese has brought him back to Ghana 15 years after he controversially left the Black Stars to coach Maritimo in Portugal

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Ghana Premier League giants Kumasi Asante Kotoko have appointed Portuguese Mariano Barreto as their new head coach.

Kotoko announced the appointment of Barreto who is a former coach of Ghana's senior national team, Black Stars, on Friday, March 26, 2021.

Mariano Barreto: Asante Kotoko Sign Former Black Stars Coach — Photo source: Asante Kotoko SC
Source: Facebook

According to the post on Kotoko's social media pages which broke the news, Barreto's deal is for one and a half years.

Coach Barreto takes over from Abdulai Gazale, who was appointed head coach only last month, he now becomes an assistant coach.

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Former caretaker coach, Johnson Smith who acted in the role after Kotoko parted ways with Maxwell Konadu in December 2020 will also be an assistant to Barreto and a youth team coach.

Issah Najahu remains an assistant coach and goalkeeper's trainer.

Barreto came with two other Portuguese Miguel Bruno and Pedro Manuel. While Bruno will be an assistant coach and a video analyst, Manuel will be the physical trainer and injury, prevention coach.

Kotoko's appointment of Barreto brings the 64-year-old back to Ghana over 15 years after he ended his stint with the Black Stars.

Barreto coached the Black Stars between 2004 and 2005. He also handled the Under 23 national team, the Black Meteors, which he took to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and was eliminated in the group stage.

He left Ghana under controversial circumstances after virtually abandoning the Black Stars midway through the 2006 World Cup qualifiers to take up an appointment with Maritimo in the Portuguese top flight.

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