It is fair to say that Ghana regularly dispenses with its national coaches at the turn of this generation with the Black Stars having welcomed 13 in the past 15 years.
The impacts they leave, and the tangible successes they chalked have been varying. But nothing has generated so much fuss about the hiring and sacking of these tacticians than their financial earnings.
To generally speculate, and or obtain confidential documents of these financial figures, and its praxis as a touchstone for performance appraisal has become a commonplace in the media.
However, there has never been a heightened interest and broad-ranging criticism of any Ghana national team manager’s salary like it was with Avram Grant, the immediate past trainer of the Stars.
The Israeli was at least $50,000 richer by the coda of every month.
SportsObama.com’s Saddick Adams has chronicled the salaries of some Black Stars coaches in the past which explains how significant the progression has been.
Bukhard Ziese – (2003)
The German tactician, after leading the Black Stars to qualify for the 1992 Afcon in Senegal, was sacked before the main tournament for Ottor Pfister. His comeback in 2004 under the Ben Kouffie led administration was an atrocious period.
The Black Stars failed to qualify for the AFCON for the first time since 1990 with defeats to Rwanda and Uganda. Meanwhile, the German was on a $7,000 a month salary.
Ralf Zumdick (2003)
When Bukhard Ziese left, it was another German, Ralf Zumdick who took over the mantle. He beat off competition from French coach Jean-Marc Nobilo who was proposed by legend Abedi Ayew Pele.
But it was reported that government was unable to fork out the money for the French coach’s salary.
Nobilo had demanded $20,000 a month but Zumdick was ready to take take half of that. He came in as a stop gap coach and was replaced few months later.
Mariano Barreto (2003-04)
The hitherto unknown Portuguese took over from Zumdick and is best remembered guiding the Ghana Black Meteors to the 2004 Olympics in Athens. The Black Stars exited the competition in the group stage but it was a team full of hope.
He was in charge of Ghana’s quest to make the 200 World Cup, started off well but shocking abandoned his contract apparently for a big money move to the Arab world where he coached Al Nassr.
He was on a $10,000 a month and also rewarded with a bonus for qualifying to the Olympics.
Ratomir Dujkovic (2004-06)
The quiet Sebian, who was contracted on a $15,000 a month by the GFA made history by becoming the first coach to book a place for Ghana in the World Cup finals, when he topped a group that had Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Cape Verde and South Africa.
The GFA kept faith in Ratomir Dujkovoic despite a poor AFCON campaign in Egypt that saw the Black Stars fail to progress past the group stage.
In the World Cup helped Ghana qualify from a difficult group that had Italy, Czech Republic and USA, who were all highly ranked on the FIFA ranking prior to the tournament.
Despite widespread calls for him to stay at the helm after Ghana’s impressive performance at the World Cup, the Borovo-born coach decided to leave citing health concerns. As usual, he would go on to sign with the Chinese FA to coach their Olympic team for big money.
Claude Le Roy (2006-08)
The well-traveled Frenchman was brought in with a target to win gold the Africa Cup of Nations which Ghana was hosting 2008 but ended up with bronze. He resigned afterwards to seek new challenge. Claude Le Roy gave youngsters like Kwadwo Asamoah and Andre Ayew the opportunity to play for the Black Stars
His salary was a double of his predecessor. $30,000 a month.
Milovan Rajevac (2008-10)
The Serb was met with fury and exited as a hero. He was firm in rebuildidng the Black Stars from the scratch and guided the team to the final of the 2010 AFCON held in Angola but lost the final to the Egypt.
He would continue to seamlessly qualify Ghana to the 2010 FIFA World Cup where the Black Stars shocked the world with breathtaking football. But for Suarez’s cruel handball and Asamoah Gyan’s last minute penalty miss Ghana would have reached the semifinals under Rajevac’s watch.
He left Ghana for Qatar after the World Cup heroics.
Milo was a $45,000 a month boss.
Goran Stevanovic (2011-12)
Plavi, as he was affectionately called, was agreed a $45,000 a month deal with the GFA and was the fourth Serbian hired by the Black Stars in a space of seven years.
He helped Ghana qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations held in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. His team reached the semifinals and lost by a lone goal to eventual winners Zambia.
He was sacked after the tournament, amid issues of losing his dressing room, as he testified there were issues of black magic in the camp of the Black Stars.
Kwesi Appiah I (2012-2014)
Appiah, a former Black Stars skipper, had previously assisted Jones Attuquayefio in 2001, Milovan Rajevac in 2010 and Stevanovic in 2012. He was finally given the mantle as Black Stars coach.
His first major test was the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and his side finished fourth. Kwesi Appiah made history, by becoming the first indigenous coach to qualify the Black Stars to the FIFA World Cup finals, but the team couldn’t progress past the group stage over issues of player boycott of training during the tournament over the delay in the payment of appearance fees.
He was paid $20,000 a month, less than half the amount of his former boss and predecessor.
Avram Grant (2014-2017)
The former Chelsea boss arrived with some high stakes, becoming the most high profile manager the Black Stars had seen in many years.
The Israeli almost made history by becoming the first foreigner to win Ghana the Africa Cup of Nations trophy, but the Black Stars lost the final of Equatorial Guinea 2015 on penalties to Ivory Coast.
The ex West Ham boss fell below his own standards when he could only place 4th in his second Afcon ask in 2017.
He would would later fallout with fans, some politicians and the media his lack of commitment to the job.
Avram Grant was earning $50,000 every month.
Kwesi Appiah II (2017-)
Appiah returned as coach of the Black Stars to succeed the man who succeeded him. He was handed a 2 year deal and is yet to sign a deal with the Ghana FA.
Meanehile, speculations are rife Appiah will again receive a figure lower than Avram Grant, with his salary expected to be around $35,000 a month. Meanwhile, $5,000 of that figure will be donated into a fund to support retired players and coaches
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