Tom Strand is a professional football coach from Sweden who is contracted to Great Olympics in Ghana as of 2017.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tom Marcus Christian Strand | ||
| Date of birth | 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Sweden | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| –2014 | Golden Boot Academy (chairman) | ||
| 2014 | Bechem United | ||
| 2015–2016 | Medeama SC | ||
| 2017– | Great Olympics | ||
Career
editBechem United
editSigning a two-year contract to lead Bechem United in 2014,[1] he was praised by the team CEO as perfect for the club due to his ‘training methods’ and ‘tactical ingenuity’ just a month after his arrival.[2] During his time with the club, he stated that the ‘old’ officials presiding over the league matches as referees were culpable of bad calls and deliberately aggravating players.[3] Following his departure from the club, he had relished for another spell at Bechem despite the fact he was already at Medeama SC by then.[4]
Medeama and resignation crisis
editIn 2015, the Swede was announced as head coach of Medeama SC of the Ghanaian Premier League.[5] The Ghanaian media spread rumors that Strand was going to sign for Hearts of Oak (while he was still with Medeama) which never happened even though they had sent a letter to Medeama regarding a possible appointment of him as their coach.[6] But, in 2016, he decided abscond from his hotel in South Africa without notifying anyone one night, leaving a note explaining his resignation. Before that, the trainer had also missed multiple training sessions and two league games and technical director Augustine Evans Adotey supervised the squad in his place.[7] It happened a day after his team lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs.[8] At once, he was reported to the South African police for his surreptitious behavior.[9] By 10 May Strand had already returned to Sweden.[10] Months later, he issued an apology for suddenly leaving the club in such an unscrupulous manner,[11][12][13] citing familial financial problems as the reason for his exit.[14] Still, he thought about a possible return to coach Medeama but the deal never happened. Medeama now want repayment from him for cancelling his contract before it expired[15] and Interpol have given him a red notice alert.[16]
Great Olympics
editSucceeding Godwin Attram as head coach in April 2017,[17] his main task was to lift the newly promoted side from the bottom of the table.[18][19] This decision to appoint him as manager bewildered the supporters, who threatened to ‘chase him out’.[20] By June 2017, Strand has expressed apprehension over the club being relegated.[21]
One of his main ambitions is to lead the Ghana national team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar.[22]
References
edit- ^ "Tom Strand signs two-year contract as Bechem coach". Africanfootball.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Bechem coach Strand slams 'old' Ghana referees". Goal.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Exclusive: Tom Strand desires Bechem United U-turn". Ghanaweb.com. 29 December 2014.
- ^ "OFFICIAL: Medeama SC appoint Tom Strand as head coach; Annor Walker as deputy". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Hearts send official letter to Medeama over Tom Strand". Ghanaweb.com. 15 October 2015.
- ^ "The story of a coach gone AWOL at Medeama SC". Pulse.com.gh. 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Tom Strand goes AWOL, leaves quit note in Medeama team hotel room - Kessben FM". Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ "Tom Strand goes walkabout in South Africa, reported to police - 2016 CAF Confederation Cup - Medeama Sc". Africanfootball.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Tom Strand arrives in Sweden after unceremonious exit from Medeama". Ritefmonline.org. 10 May 2016.
- ^ "Tom Strands Renders Apologies to Medeama Sc". Ghanamansports.com. March 2017.
- ^ "Tom Strand apologize for untimely exit from Medeama". GhHeadlines.com.
- ^ "Tom Strand Renders Apology to MedeamaSportsCrusader.com - Ghana Sports & Football News and Updates and around the World | SportsCrusader.com - Ghana Sports & Football News and Updates and around the World". Archived from the original on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
- ^ "Why I left Medeama hotel in South Africa - Tom Strand opens up". Ghanaweb.com. 24 February 2017.
- ^ "Medeama seeking compensation from former Coach Tom Strand". Archived from the original on 2017-06-25. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
- ^ "Interpol issues red notice for Swedish coach Tom Strand". Ghanaweb.com. 20 April 2017.
- ^ "Tom Strand takes over from Godwin Attram". Goal.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "I Will Turn Things Around for Great Olympics – Tom Strand | SportsNetGhana.com". Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
- ^ "I'll transform Great Olympics- Tom Strand – Starr Fm". Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
- ^ "Great Olympics supporters vow to chase out incoming coach Tom Strand". GhHeadlines.com.
- ^ ""I don't know if we can survive" -Tom Strand". SportsWorldGhana.com. 27 June 2017.
- ^ "Ex-Medeama coach Tom Strand wants to lead Ghana in 2022 World Cup". Pulse.com.gh. 23 February 2017.