Asante Kotoko have appointed former Ghana coach Mariano Barreto as their new head coach.

The 64-year-old Portuguese takes over from coach Johnson Smith, who was in charge on interim basis after the exit of Maxwell Konadu, earlier in the season.

His appointment had been rumored in the local media for some time but Kotoko officially announced the deal on Friday on their social media platforms.

Mariano Barreto coached Black Stars between 2003 and 2004 and led Ghana’s Black Meteors to the Athens Olympic games in 2004.

Barreto is expected to be in the dugout for Kotoko’s next Ghana Premier League fixture against Eleven Wonders when the second round of the league resumes.

Source: Starrfmonline.com