Former Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has firmly dismissed claims that players were imposed on him during his time in charge of the Phobians, insisting he maintained full authority over recruitment decisions throughout his tenure.
The Ivorian tactician was appointed head coach midway through the 2023/24 season and remained in the role until the end of the 2024/25 campaign, when the club opted to reassign him as Technical Advisor to the Board.
Speaking in an interview with Top Sports, Ouattara addressed persistent speculation suggesting external interference in team selection and player recruitment, describing such reports as inaccurate and misleading.
“Nobody forced a player on me during my time. There were recommendations, though,” Ouattara clarified.
“But I always had control over the players we recruited.”
Beyond addressing the recruitment debate, Ouattara also opened up about his emotions following the club’s decision to remove him from the head coach position. He admitted the move was disappointing, especially given the plans he had already put in place for the upcoming season.
“I felt disappointed after I was informed to perform the role of the Technical Advisor because I had a template to put into reality as the head coach,” he said.
Ouattara revealed that he had developed a clear vision and strategic framework aimed at improving the team’s performance in the following campaign, plans he now feels he was denied the opportunity to fully implement.
Ouattara’s comments bring fresh clarity to discussions surrounding his time at Hearts of Oak, a period marked by mixed results, intense scrutiny, and ongoing debates about recruitment policy and technical control at the club.
While no longer in the dugout, his revelations underline his belief that he was given autonomy as head coach—despite the challenges—and that his exit came before his long-term project could take shape.
