One Year, 4 Coaches – Hearts of Oak’s Battle With Technical Men

Hearts of Oak have struggled to maintain a substantive coach in the last year following the unimpressive performances of the team which has inspired the departure of four different coaches at the club.

Experienced Dutch football manager, Martinus Koopman became the latest to part ways with the Phobians on Tuesday as the club officially communicated the decision to terminate his contract mutually.

Before Koopman’s departure, the former Ghana Premier League champions have worked with three previous coaches in the past year including arguably their best coach in the last decade, Samuel Boadu.

Samuel Boadu

Having embarked on a phenomenal journey with Medeama SC, the young coach emerged as a sought-after coach in Ghanaian football.

Despite warnings from fans and experts to avoid the challenging role at Hearts of Oak due to the ongoing crisis, Boadu courageously embraced the opportunity. There were several advice from fans and experts alike to stay away from the Hearts of Oak job given the impending crisis, they found themselves in – a situation that saw almost all technical men leave their jobs except interim coach coach at the time Samuel Nii Noi who led the team after the sack of Kosta Papic.

Contrary to predictions of doom, Boadu, with unwavering self-belief, took charge of a struggling team on the league table and led Hearts of Oak to unexpected and remarkable glory, securing their first top-flight victory in 11 years.

Boadu enjoyed an outstanding tenure with the Phobians, overseeing 18 matches in his first season with an impressive record of 11 wins, 5 draws, and only 3 losses.

As if that was not enough, Hearts of Oak clinched the FA Cup, completing a double in a season that began on a very poor note.

While his second season may not have matched the previous heights, Boadu maintained a title-winning momentum by successfully defending the FA Cup, despite finishing outside the top four and losing the title to archrivals Asante Kotoko.

The following season was when Boadu could not last longer.
Despite concerns about his team’s away form, the more significant issue arose from the disappointing losses suffered in both the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, leading to a shorter tenure for the coach.

“Boadu came and did very well but you see out of 15 away matches we won only one” Odotei Sowah, a board member of the club revealed to Accra-based Hot FM.

“Our win on Sunday (against AS Real Bamako) was the first win in about 10 matches and these were some of the reasons we were not comfortable at the board level. Look it got to a time he was not able to give us hope for the future” the board member added.

Slavko Matic

Despite being linked with then-former Kotoko coach Prosper Narteh Ogum who was without a club after leaving the Porcupine Warriors and 55-year-old Dutchman Erik van der Meer, the Phobians settled on Serbian tactician Slavko Matic.

Having replaced Samuel Boadu in October 2022, the Serbian trainer lost once in his first 11 matches but lost three in his last four compounding to seven wins in 16 matches and 5 draws with four defeats.

Fans barred the coach from attending his normal duties at training following the poor run of form ultimately leading to his exit.

David Ocloo

David Ocloo initially assumed the role of an interim boss amid the controversial situation and status of Slavko Matic but ultimately continued to coach the team until the conclusion of the season.

When Slavko Matic was last in charge, the team occupied the sixth position on the table. Unfortunately, the performance did not witness improvement under Ocloo’s guidance.

Despite securing a victory against Asante Kotoko in his debut game in charge, Ocloo faced the difficult prospect of relegation with the club.

During his tenure, Ocloo managed to secure five wins in the 11 games under his charge. However, the team experienced seven losses, including four consecutive defeats in the last five matches of the season and suffered on the final day of the season after Tamale City got beaten by eventual champions Medeama SC.

Martin Koopman

After a series of signings by Hearts of Oak in anticipation of the season, the appointment of Martin Koopman stirred discontent among many fans. The Dutch trainer, perceived to have had no involvement in the signings, raised concerns among supporters who foresaw challenges in managing the club.

Initial optimism surrounded Koopman’s tenure when he first assumed the role, guiding the team to significant victories in friendly matches. However, this promising start failed to translate into success in competitive football. Koopman managed only two wins in 10 games, with six draws and two losses. As predicted by some skeptics, Koopman later voiced concerns about the team’s lack of a lethal striker, adding weight to the initial reservations expressed by fans.

What’s next for Hearts of Oak?

In their official statement, Hearts of Oak underscored their commitment to restructuring the technical team, sparking anticipation among fans and football enthusiasts for another imminent appointment while Abdul Rahim Bashiru assumes the role of an interim boss.

Bashir Hayford, a seasoned coach with a rich history of managing clubs like Hearts of Lions, Asante Kotoko, Medeama SC, and AshantiGold, has emerged as a linked candidate for the role. While his vast experience sets him apart, concerns arise about his recent track record, particularly his stint with Legon Cities, where he faced challenges and eventually lost his job to Maxwell Konadu in a controversial manner.

Rumors about the potential return of Samuel Boadu, who previously led the team to success, have been circulating loudly since the conclusion of the last season.

Additionally, speculation surrounds the possibility of a reunion between former Black Stars coach Charles Kwabla Akonnor and the club as well as ex-player Yaw Preko, adding intrigue to the ongoing discussion about the next coach for Hearts of Oak. Fans eagerly await further developments in the club’s coaching staff restructuring.