The Ghana Football Association has announced the appointment of Stuart McLaren as its Talent Coach on a two-year deal.

Stuart McLaren will partner with the GFA’s Technical Director, Professor Joseph Kwame Mintah, to implement Ghana’s Talent Identification and Development (TDS) program, a subset of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) program.

Like many other member associations, Ghana’s program will be under the supervision of FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger.
In a statement on its website, the GFA highlighted the significance of the appointment.

‘‘Talent Coaches play a pivotal role in shaping the future of football and Stuart McLaren’s responsibilities include observing local matches, collaborating with coaches on long-term team goals, identifying talent that aligns with Ghana's football DNA, tactical systems, and team culture, and presenting comprehensive evaluations to stakeholders to ensure actionable insights.’’

Stuart McLaren, a Scottish-Australian, played for Perth Glory FC, Brisbane Roar FC, Sarawak FC, Brisbane Strikers FC, Hong Kong Rangers FC, Stirling Albion FC, Wollongong Wolves FC, and the Australia Institute of Sport in a career that spanned 16 years.

His main managerial stint was as coach of Stirling Albion Football Club from October 2014 to October 2016. His first year with the club was in the Scottish top flight. Although the team was relegated at the end of the 2014/15 season, he stayed with them in the Scottish second tier before parting ways in October 2016.

That aside, McLauren has also served as the Senior Women's National and Team Assistant Coach of Ireland.

He has also coached the U-16 Boys National Team of Scotland from November 2016 to January 2018, served as the Women's National Team Head Coach of Scotland from January 2021 to June 2021, and was Celtic FC's U-18 Manager from January 2022 to December 2023. He was also the Senior Women's National and Team Assistant Coach of Ireland.

Having worked as a Coach Educator and Coaching Education and Development Manager for the Scottish Football Association, his new role with the GFA is one he is familiar with.

A FIFA Talent Coach is a professional assigned to a member association to develop young football talent and enhance coaching practices within that association. They work to establish high-quality youth academies, identify promising young players, and provide training and guidance to both players and local coaches. The program aims to create a high-performance environment for talent development and raise international standards.  

The Talent Development Scheme is a fully funded FIFA program, implemented by member associations like the GFA. The world football-governing body has allocated a $200 million fund for the TDS to be distributed over the 2023-2026 period. 

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