- Hearts of Oak Announce Black Stars Legend Richard Kingson as Goalkeepers’ Coach
Accra Hearts of Oak have strengthened their technical team ahead of the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season by appointing former Black Stars goalkeeper Richard “Olele” Kingson as the club’s new goalkeepers’ coach.
The Phobians confirmed the appointment on Monday, ending weeks of speculation linking the Ghana football legend with a return to the club in a coaching capacity. Kingson joins Hearts as preparations intensify for the new league campaign, which begins in September.
In announcing the appointment, Hearts of Oak welcomed one of Ghana’s most celebrated goalkeepers back into the fold.
“Some journeys always lead back home. Today, we proudly welcome one of Ghana’s finest goalkeepers, Richard Kingson, as our new Goalkeepers’ Coach. Let’s build the future together,” the club said in a statement.
Kingson will now be responsible for developing the club’s goalkeepers, including Black Stars first-choice shot-stopper Benjamin Asare and former Dreams FC goalkeeper Solomon Agbasi.
Asare arrives with growing confidence after featuring in three of Ghana’s four matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where his performances further established him as one of the country’s leading goalkeepers. Agbasi was also part of Ghana’s World Cup squad, although he did not make an appearance during the tournament.
The appointment comes just days after Hearts named Serbian coach Nebojsa Kapor as their new head coach, as the club continues its rebuilding process ahead of the new season. The Phobians will begin their Premier League campaign at home against Berekum Chelsea on September 5.
Kingson returns to coaching with a wealth of experience gained from an outstanding playing career that spanned nearly two decades.
Widely regarded as one of Ghana’s greatest goalkeepers, the 48-year-old earned 93 international caps for the Black Stars between 1996 and 2011, making him one of the most-capped players in Ghana’s history.
He represented Ghana at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, playing a crucial role in the Black Stars’ historic run to the quarter-finals in South Africa in 2010—the country’s best-ever performance at the global tournament. Across the two World Cups, Kingson made nine appearances for Ghana.
Kingson also enjoyed an accomplished club career in Europe, featuring for Turkish giants Galatasaray, English Premier League clubs Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, and Blackpool, as well as Swedish side Hammarby. During his time with Galatasaray, he won two Turkish Super Lig titles (1996-97 and 1997-98) and the Turkish Cup in 2004-05.
On the international stage, he was named in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament in both 2008 and 2010, helping Ghana finish third on home soil in 2008 before reaching the final of the 2010 edition in Angola.
Since retiring from professional football, Kingson has built an impressive coaching résumé, previously serving as the Black Stars’ goalkeepers’ coach and working with Ghana’s national teams to help nurture the country’s next generation of goalkeepers.
Hearts of Oak will be hoping that Kingson’s vast experience at the highest level of international and club football can inspire another generation of elite goalkeepers as the club targets success in the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League season.
