Otto Pfister names ‘genius’ Abedi Pele, Eto’o as greatest players he’s coached

Former Ghana National Team Head Coach Otto Pfister has named Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’ as a genius and one of the greatest play-makers the game of football has ever seen.

Now retired, Otto Pfister-whose dressing style became a fashion trend in Ghana- coached the Black Stars from 1992-1993 and led the team to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 1992.

Undoubtedly one of Germany’s most successful coaching exports, Pfister was voted Africa’s Manager of the Year in 1992. The German has named Abedi Pele and Samuel Eto’o as the greatest players he has had the privilege to manage.

Now 82, the much-traveled tactician also coached the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in a career that started in 1972.

Overall, he coached 8 African countries comprising Rwanda, Burkina Faso (Upper Volta), Togo, Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Among the wide array of football stars Pfister has managed, he was very certain, his best pick from the lot will be Abedi Pele and Samuel Eto’o.

“Samuel Eto’o and Abedi Pele absolute (sic) on top,” Pfister told Citi FM in an interview.

“But you cannot say Abedi is better than Eto’o or Eto’o is better than Abedi because is not the same position.

“Samuel Eto’o was a top striker, at his time he was one of the best striker in the world.

“But Abedi Pele for me in his position was a genius. He was so strong, he had skills, ha had anticipation, he can score. He was truly at the time one of the best playmakers in the world. Abedi was to me a wonder player,” Otto Pfister concluded.

Otto Pfister has been involved in association football for almost 60 years, he began his coaching career in Switzerland as player-coach in 1961 at the age of just 23.

His last role was with Afghanistan in 2018.