Ghana Premier League side Accra Lions FC have appointed Ibrahim Tanko as the new Sporting Director, describing the Yemboni man as the “right person for the job”.
Tanko who holds a UEFA License A coaching certificate, has agreed a contract and will start work immediately in the new role created to reflect the future ambitions of the club.
The 1997 UEFA Chamapions league winner comes in with a vast experience in the football industry.
The 44-year-old’s role will see him shape the activities of the senior team while giving a laser-guided focus to the methods of the club’s academy.
The former Black Stars assistant coach will also lead the restructuring of the process of recruitment at the club.
Lions are having their maiden premier league campaign and have set a huge target to stay in the top flight competition.
After landing the services of Ibrahim Tanko, the Accra Lions CEO Nana Obiri Yeboah said: “We are absolutely pleased that Tanko has agreed to work in the role of a Sporting Director of the club.
“His immense playing and coaching experience makes him the right person for the job at this important phase of the club,” he said
“We are certain he will bring his playing experience and coaching knowledge to bare at Accra Lions and help us achieve our cherished ambitions.”
Speaking about his appointment, Ibrahim Tanko also said, “I am extremely proud and happy to be taking the role of the Sporting Director of Accra Lions Football Club on this exciting project.
“I would like to thank the club, the leadership, management, players and supporters for the warm welcome and for placing their faith in me. I want to assure them that together with all my colleagues, we will do our utmost best to consolidate the solid and continuous growth at the club.”
Ibrahim Tanko is a seasoned Ghanaian trainer having coached at the highest levels in world football including working with professional clubs in Germany and Japan.
He was the assistant coach of German sides Freiburg and FC Cologne before travelling to Japan to work with Urawa Red Diamonds.
The iconic figure worked with the Cameroonian senior national team as their assistant coach before leaving to occupy a similar position with the Black Stars in 2017.
Two years later he was named the head coach of the Black Meters, Ghana’s U23 side, and led them to the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Ibrahim Tanko subsequently served as the head coach of Ghana’s home-based national team, the Local Black Stars, for five months before he was replaced by Coach Annor Walker.
He played for King Faisal Babies before moving to Germany in 1994 where he played for giants Borussia Dortmund where he won the 1997 UEFA Chamapions league before ending his playing career at Freiburg after a long injury battle.
He is tipped among the favorites to lead Black Stars as the FA is set to name a substantive coach after Ghana’s 2022 World Cup Playoffs against Nigeria.