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Soccer News of Wednesday, 21 May 2008

Source: ghanasoccernet.

Toppmoller favoured by GFA to coach Ghana

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has handpicked German coach Klaus Toppmoller as the replace for Frenchman Claude Le Roy.

The country's football governing body will meet the former Bayer Leverkusen coach next week to discuss his terms.

This comes even though several coaches have sent in their applications to take over from Le Roy who quits the post at the end of the month.

The latest to send in his CV to be the next Black Stars coach is Dutchman and former Nigeria coach Jo Bonfrere.

The GFA already stated that it will not go through the tortuous interviewing process, saying it will target a coach for appointment.

Toppmoller, who was until recently coach of Georgia, won fame with Leverkusen by knocking both Liverpool and Manchester United out of the 2002 Champions League.

His side reached the Hampden Park Final in Glasgow in 2002 before losing to a Zinedine Zidane inspired Real Madrid.

The 56-year-old German has been targeted by the GFA because of his commitment to attacking football which is matched by a background dealing with leading European stars.

Toppmoller is credited with brilliantly developing the talents of Michael Ballack, Dimitar Berbatov and Brazilian World Cup winner Lucio during his time with Leverkusen.

He is keen of Ghana football because of the country's deep pool of high quality footballers and status as, officially, Fifa's highest ranked African soccer nation.