From the sandy pitches in Asawase, a suburb of Kumasi, to the green grass in Coface Arena, Mainz O5, Wolfsburg, defines the career of Michael Osei.
On Monday April, 4, the management of Asante Kotoko tasked Michael Osei to take over the coaching responsibilities of the club after asking David Duncan to step aside.
Below are three things you need to know about Kotoko’s 26th coach in 17 years.
1. PLAYED FOR ALL NATIONAL TEAMS IN GHANA
Michael Osei played for all the national teams in Ghana – Black Starlets (U-17), Black Satellites (U-20) and the Black Stars.
His playing days at Asante Kotoko dwarfed his output for Ghana’s senior national teams. Hardly do many know that Michael Osei was instrumental in Ghana’s quest for a fifth AFCON title in Senegal 1992.
The powerful attacking midfielder was outstanding alongside Tony Yeboah, Abedi Pele and Opoku Nti – current General Manager of Asante Kotoko. Unfortunately, he was dropped from the final squad to Senegal when Otto Pfister took over from Burkhard Ziese.
2. WON FOUR TROPHIES FOR AS ASSISTANT COACH
When the responsibility dawn on Michael Osei, he doesn’t disappoint. His work rate, ingenuity, and super understanding of the game makes him a special candidate for Kotoko’s coaching job.
The former Okwawu United player was the assistant coach when New Edubiase United won the 2012 MTN FA Cup. A return to Kotoko not to grace the pitch, but offer instructions was more glorious.
He assisted Didi Dramani to defend the league title in the 2013/14 season, and was the main man in the finals of the FA Cup when the league champions met Inter Allies.
He ended Kotoko’s barren run for a double in a season when he led the club to lift the cup in the absence of Didi Dramani who was on national assignment.
He did not disappoint again when David Duncan trusted the team’s pre-season participation to him in the GHALCA’s G-6 invitational tournament. A chunk of the team traveled to Libya, but Michael Osei lifted the crown with a squad many Kotoko faithfuls described as ‘Team B’.
3. PLAYED ALONGSIDE JURGEN KLOPP
From Anokye Stars to Okwawu United and later Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Michael Osei proceeded to Austria and Germany when the quest of local talents in Ghana thirst for professionalism in Europe soaked in their blood in the early 1990s.
He graced the green grass at the Coface Arena with current Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp. He also had stints with Frankfurt and Caracas.
Three Things You Need To Know About Kotoko"s Interim Coach
