Tom Strand is a professional football coach from Sweden who is contracted to Great Olympics in Ghana as of 2017.

Tom Strand
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

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Bechem United

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Signing 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

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In 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

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Succeeding 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

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  1. ^ "Tom Strand signs two-year contract as Bechem coach". Africanfootball.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  2. ^ [1] [dead link]
  3. ^ "Bechem coach Strand slams 'old' Ghana referees". Goal.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Exclusive: Tom Strand desires Bechem United U-turn". Ghanaweb.com. 29 December 2014.
  5. ^ "OFFICIAL: Medeama SC appoint Tom Strand as head coach; Annor Walker as deputy". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Hearts send official letter to Medeama over Tom Strand". Ghanaweb.com. 15 October 2015.
  7. ^ "The story of a coach gone AWOL at Medeama SC". Pulse.com.gh. 2 May 2016.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Tom Strand goes walkabout in South Africa, reported to police - 2016 CAF Confederation Cup - Medeama Sc". Africanfootball.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Tom Strand arrives in Sweden after unceremonious exit from Medeama". Ritefmonline.org. 10 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Tom Strands Renders Apologies to Medeama Sc". Ghanamansports.com. March 2017.
  12. ^ "Tom Strand apologize for untimely exit from Medeama". GhHeadlines.com.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Why I left Medeama hotel in South Africa - Tom Strand opens up". Ghanaweb.com. 24 February 2017.
  15. ^ "Medeama seeking compensation from former Coach Tom Strand". Archived from the original on 2017-06-25. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  16. ^ "Interpol issues red notice for Swedish coach Tom Strand". Ghanaweb.com. 20 April 2017.
  17. ^ "Tom Strand takes over from Godwin Attram". Goal.com. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  18. ^ "I Will Turn Things Around for Great Olympics – Tom Strand | SportsNetGhana.com". Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  19. ^ "I'll transform Great Olympics- Tom Strand – Starr Fm". Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2017-08-16.
  20. ^ "Great Olympics supporters vow to chase out incoming coach Tom Strand". GhHeadlines.com.
  21. ^ ""I don't know if we can survive" -Tom Strand". SportsWorldGhana.com. 27 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Ex-Medeama coach Tom Strand wants to lead Ghana in 2022 World Cup". Pulse.com.gh. 23 February 2017.