Ghana Premier League giants Hearts of Oak have named Ivorian Aboubakar Ouattara as the new coach.
Ouattara takes over from Abdul Rahim Bashiru, who has been in temporary charge since the abrogation of the contract of Martinus Koopman in November last year.
The appointment takes immediate effect, according to a statement issued by the club.
“Coach Ouattara has signed a two-and-half year contract with the Club and is expected to start training next week when the team returns from this weekend’s friendly game against Techiman XI Wonders,” the statement on Friday, February 9 said.
The CAF License A coach is said to have worked in several African countries both as coach and Technical Director.
Until his appointment, he was the Technical Adviser of Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) of Morocco, helping them win the CAF Champions League twice in his six-year spell.
Between 2009 and 2011, he was in a similar position at TP Mazembe, during which period he won the CAF Champions League.
He also won the domestic league, Linafoot, in DR Congo not only with the Baba Boys but also with AS Vita Club.
He was also coach of Asante Kotoko in the late 90s under Herbert Mensah.
Hearts of Oak finished the first round of the Ghana Premier League 11th with 21 points.
They will play Real Tamale United (RTU) when the league resumes for the second round at the end of this month.
Coach Ouattara is expected to steer the team back to the glory days of the 2000s.