Former Black Stars head coach Otto Addo said he always made it a priority to explain his selection decisions to players, even to those who were left out of the squad.
He believes this approach earned him their respect and led to the strong support he received after he was dismissed.
In an interview with German football magazine 11Freunde, Addo talked about his approach to managing players. He emphasized that honest communication is especially important when sharing disappointing news.
“I always try. I believe in trying to explain why one or the other isn’t called,” Addo said.
“There are also tactical reasons I gave them. I explained my perspective on why they aren’t coming along. That I took the time to speak with them about it.”
Addo said his commitment to openness was rewarded after he left the national team, as many players sent him messages to show their appreciation.
“After I was fired, I received many messages. They made me very happy. For me, it was the best validation,” he said.
The former Borussia Dortmund assistant coach said that more than 50 players reached out to him after he was dismissed, including some he had never picked for the Black Stars.
Addo led Ghana to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but faced criticism when the team did not qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He was let go after a series of poor friendly results, including heavy losses to Austria and Germany.
Since leaving the Black Stars, Addo has joined FIFA’s Technical Study Group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is still determined to return to coaching.
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