Chris Hughton: Managing Ghana came with pressure and unforgiving expectations

Former Ghana head coach Chris Hughton has opened up about his time in charge of the Black Stars, admitting that the experience came with intense pressure and unique challenges.

Hughton, who previously managed clubs like Brighton & Hove Albion, Norwich City, and Nottingham Forest, acknowledged that international football is a different calibre of job compared to club management.

“International management is very different – at club level, it’s about day-to-day work with players, about influencing them, whereas international football is about games,” Hughton said.

He explained that managing a national team requires a different approach, as coaches only have a limited amount of time to work with players. Unlike club football, where managers can implement strategies and train with players on a daily basis, international coaches rely on short windows during international breaks to prepare their squads.

“It’s also about luck – when three or four of your best players pull out because of injury, it changes a lot of things,” he added.

High Expectations in Ghana

Hughton was appointed as Ghana’s head coach in 2023 after serving as a technical advisor for eight months under Otto Addo. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he struggled to turn around the team’s performances. The Black Stars failed to progress beyond the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), leading to his dismissal.

The 65-year-old admitted that he was well aware of the expectations surrounding the Ghana job, given the country’s deep-rooted passion for football.

“Ghanaians are football mad. One thing they love, apart from the English Premier League, is the Black Stars,” Hughton said.

He acknowledged that working in African football comes with unique challenges, including differences in infrastructure and playing conditions.

“Perhaps the levels of structure are different to what you’re used to at club level. The pitches that you’re playing on are different, so you have to be able to adapt,” he explained.

Despite these difficulties, Hughton insists he was not caught off guard by the demands of the job, having already been involved with the national team before taking over as head coach.

“I knew the pressure of taking the job when I took it, and if you’re not getting the right results, then you will know about it,” he admitted.

Future in Football

Though his time with the Black Stars ended in disappointment, Hughton remains determined to continue working in football.

“At the moment, there is a different way of playing – a lot of young coaches coming through, which I think is good. But I still have a lot of energy, and I’d like to continue in the game,” he said.

His wealth of experience in both club and international football makes him a strong candidate for future managerial roles. Whether he returns to club football or takes on another international job remains to be seen, but Hughton is not ready to walk away from the sport just yet.