Former Ghana coach Otto Pfister has been appointed the head coach of the Afghanistan national football team.
The vastly experienced 79-year-old who is famous in Ghana famous for sagging his trousers on the sidelines was officially unveiled on Sunday, February 12 after signing a one-year deal with the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF).
Pfister will now oversee Afghanistan’s attempt to book a spot at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup when the third and final round of qualifying gets underway next month.
“After the resignation of former coach Petar Segrt, we tried to hire a good coach and we were able to reach an agreement with Pfister,” AFF President Keramuddin Karim told reporters.
“We have signed a contract with him and I hope that with Pfister and the new technical staff we will be able to fulfill our people’s wishes.”
Pfister (arrowed) at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Germany with Ghana’s Black Starlets
Pfister, Africa’s Manager of the Year in 1992, already has a wealth of experience under his belt, having famously guided Saudi Arabia to the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Togo at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Asides influencing the dressing style of Ghanaian youth, Pfister also made his mark on Ghanaian football by leading the Starlets to the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Italy.
Pfister also appeared in four African Cup of Nations competitions — with Upper Volta (now: Burkina Faso), Zaire, Cameroon, and Ghana — and has reached the African Cup of Nations final twice, with Cameroon and Ghana.
The Cologne native has also won league titles in Lebanon and Egypt with Nejmeh and Zamalek respectively.