Former Burkina Faso coach in talks to be next Hearts coach

Belgian tactician Paul Put is in line to be named next Accra Hearts of Oak coach following the team’s demotion of Portuguese trainer Sergio Traguil to the U20 side, Auroras.

Hearts of Oak, who have worked with three different coaches in the 2015/2016 season, held discussions with Paul Put and Serbian trainer Kosta Papi? for a possible replacement for Kenichi, but unfortunately, both negotiations fell through after board chairman Togbe Afede agreed to bring in the Portuguese Sergio Traguil.

Sources close to Footballghana.com reveal that Kosta Papi? was in the lead to land the vacant coaching role but his current contract with South African side Royal Eagles FC will not allow him to make the move hence the need to settle on Paul Put.

Put was the manager of the Gambian national team between 2008 and 2011 before being appointed the manager of Burkina Faso in March 2012.

He had previously managed Belgian club sides Geel, Lokeren and Lierse, before being banned for three years by the Royal Belgian Football Association for his alleged involvement in the Ye Zheyun match-fixing scandal.

The 60-year-old left his role as Burkina Faso manager in February 2015, before becoming manager of Jordan in June 2015.

Following a two-week suspension by the Jordan Football Association on 20 December 2015, Put resigned his position as manager of the Jordan national team in January 2016, and he is currently unattached.