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Accra Hearts of Oak and Dutch Head Coach Martin Koopman have mutually parted ways following a series of poor performance in the Ghana Premier League this season.
According to the club, the decision forms part of Accra Hearts of Oak’s grand aim of restructuring the technical team as the club continue with the 2023-24 football season.
In a press statement dated November 14, 2023, Accra Hearts of Oak explained that in the interim, the current assistant coach, Abdul Rahim Bashiru has been mandated to take charge as the acting head coach until further notice.
“The Hearts of Oak management is therefore using this opportunity to thank Coach Koopman for his services whilst at the club and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavors,” the statement added.
FYI
Hearts of Oak mutually part ways with Martinus Koopman.
Abdul Bashiru takes over as the Acting Head Coach. #AHOSC#PositiveEnergy pic.twitter.com/fiTPdUk4dF— Phooobia! – #WeNeverSayDie 🏅🏆 (@HeartsOfOakGH) November 14, 2023
Koopman, who took the coaching reins in August, has set a record as the coach with the shortest stint at the club in the last decade. The termination of his two-year contract comes just three months into the role, primarily attributed to the team’s lacklustre performance under his guidance.
Under his guidance the Phobians managed to secure only two victories, six draws and two defeats in 10 league matches. They currently occupy the 11th position on the betPawa Premier League log, accumulating 12 points out of a possible 30.
Coaching merry-go-round
Koopman’s departure marks the 23rd coaching change since the departure of the renowned Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio in 1998. He now joins the roster of expatriate coaches who have tried their hand at leading the Phobians in recent years, following in the footsteps of Slavko Matic, Kosta Papic, Frank Nuttall, Sergio Traguil, Kenichi Yatsuhashi, Can Vanli, Nebojsa Vucicevic, Eyal Lachman, Mitko Dobrev and Ernst Middendorp.
With a coaching career going back to 1989, Koopman has had notable roles with clubs such as Al Nasr, Aruba, Roda JC, Shenyang Ginde as well as coaching national teams like the Maldives, and serving as the assistant coach of the Saudi Arabia national team from 2002 to 2004.
