Posted by With almost 60 years of experience in coaching, former manager of the Black Stars, Otto Pfister has named 1993 champions league winner, Abedi Pele and 2 times treble winner, Samuel Eto’o as the greatest players he has ever managed.
Otto Pfister managed a Abedi Pele led Black Stars team to the final of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1992, but lost on penalties to Côte d’Ivoire. He again managed a Cameroon side led by Samuel Eto’o to the AFCON final in 2008, and once again lost, but this time to Egypt.
Speaking in an interview with Citi TV, the veteran manager showered approbations on Abedi Pele and Samuel Eto’o, he went on to name them as the two greatest players he has ever managed.
“I think Abedi Pele and Samuel Eto’o are the best players I have ever coached. They are absolutely on top. However, you cannot say Abedi is better than Eto’o or Eto’o is better than Abedi. They are two different players who play in two different positions”, Otto Pfister told Citi TV.
“Samuel Eto’o was a top striker in his time. He won two UEFA Champions League trophies, one with Barcelona and the other with Inter Milan. Abedi Pele too won the same trophy with Olympique Marseille. But Abedi Pele for me in his position was a genius.”
“Abedi was so strong, he had skills, anticipation. He can score, he was a true hero was for me. In his time, he was one of the best playmakers in the world”, he continued.
“I have also managed top players like Tony Yeboah, Geremi Njitap, Tony Baffoe, Opoku Nti, Hossam Hassan, and Emmanuel Adebayor who were all great players.
“But on top of all the players I have coached, I will say Abedi Pele and Samuel Eto’o. Same level but Abedi was a wonderful player”, he added.
Otto Pfister started managing in 1961, he has since then managed over 20 national and club teams. He managed Ghana between 1992-1993, he also managed Cameroon between 2007-2009.
Samuel Eto’o and Abedi Pele Ayew have won the African Footballer of the Year on four and three occasions, respectively.
Watch video below:
I asked Otto Pfister who the greatest African he's ever coached:
Samuel Eto'o?
Abedi Pele?"I went to his house one time for coffee, and he was juggling two balls at the same time. Aint nobody can do that in the whole of Africa". #Citisports pic.twitter.com/McBuajtECX
— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) June 22, 2020