Real Madrid’s McGinn takes second shot at Cranes’ job
McGinn wants in as the new Uganda Cranes coach. COURTESY PHOTO
Kampala- Sebastien Desabre beat a number of applicants to take the senior men’s national football team coaching role in December 2017.
Following a commendable show at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt, the Frenchman left the Cranes after Egyptian moneybags Pyramids lured him with a hefty offer.
Now Chris McGinn, one of those who lost to Desabre in the race to replace Micho Sredojevic two years ago, is knocking on the door again for the Cranes’ job.
Daily Monitor understands the Englishman, who is the director of coaching at Foundation Real Madrid Clinics in UK and Europe, has applied to Fufa for the vacant role. “Our coach has submitted and would like to take the job,” McGinn’s agent Saidi Banks from DES Management Global told this paper early this week.
“In 2017, we tried but failed. We hope he is selected this time as he has a rich profile,” said Banks, a Ugandan based in UK.
At 56, McGinn possesses of a three-decade coaching experience with youth and senior teams at clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, QPR, Wigan and Fulham in England.
During the 2004-2005 season, he particularly worked with strikers under Arsene Wenger as Arsenal went unbeaten in the Premier League at Highbury.
At Fulham, he tutored their deaf men’s side to four British Deaf Cup and three English Deaf Cups from 2011-2013. He also coached the Great Britain men’s Deaf from 2010-2016. McGinn’s shot at a national team job was at youth level in 2005-2006 with Ghana. He was, however, Sellas Tetteh’s advisor as Ghana won the Fifa U20 World Cup in 2009.
He is now in pursuit of his first major role at a senior national side. “I have seen over the last five years the potential that Uganda has,” McGinn, holder of a Uefa A Licence, said in a voice note.
“I really want the opportunity to show the nation what Ugandan football can do,” he said.
