Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston has expressed his willingness to take charge of the senior national team if the Ghana Football Association (GFA) comes calling, saying there would be no greater joy than serving his country.
Beyond his popularity as a former Black Stars midfielder, Kingston has spent the years alter his playing career building a coaching profile that now stretches across Ghana, Europe, the United States and Uganda.
A close ally of the Kingston family has told Graphic Online that Kingston has expressed interest in the job and would gladly welcome an opportunity to lead the senior national team and serve his country at the highest level should the five-member committee tasked by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation consider him for the vacant coaching position.
“Who wouldn’t want to coach the Black Stars, especially when they have the credentials? Laryea Kingston has built his credentials in the coaching space, both locally and internationally. He has undertaken several coaching courses over the years and gained considerable experience from managing different teams,” the source said on Monday.
According to the close ally, Kingston joining forces with Stephen Appiah, John Paintsil and Asamoah Djan, who are already members of the technical team, would provide a strong influence and serve as an antidote to the dwindling fortunes of the Black Stars.
Kingston himself in July 2026 indicated an interest in the Black Stars coaching job.
His position was quite explicit: “I have a job now, and I am happy with my job for now. I’m a Ghanaian, and I would love to hear that call [from the FA to come and coach the team]. There is no better joy than helping your country,” he told Joy Prime in July.
This is not the first time he has expressed interest.
Kingston had already made his intentions known in February 2024, when the Black Stars coaching position became vacant after Chris Hughton's exit.
In an interview with Graphic Sports, he was asked whether he would accept the job and responded: “Of course, I will accept and do it easy. I know the level at which I am now.”
He also advocated a consideration for a competent Ghanaian national coach. (Lareya Kingston: Ghana needs local coach for Black Stars)
Six days ago, Kingston shared his CAF ‘A’ Coaching Diploma on Instagram, accompanied by Empower EK’s song, Never Stop Learning. Former Black Stars skipper Andre Ayew, who has also been in the news in recent times over reports of his interest in vying for the GFA presidential position, commented on the post: “Skilful coach.”
Coaching career
His transition from player to coach has, however, been carefully built around youth development.
One of the most important chapters of his coaching education came at Right to Dream, where he began working with young players in 2019.
His work with the academy subsequently took him into the Right to Dream-FC Nordsjælland development structure in Denmark, exposing him to a highly organised European youth football environment.
That experience became an important foundation for his coaching philosophy, particularly his emphasis on player development, tactical education and building teams around a clear identity.
He obtained his UEFA B coaching licence in 2022 and subsequently progressed through higher coaching qualifications.
When the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) appointed him in 2025, the federation identified him as holding UEFA A and CAF B qualifications.
He has also participated in the Ghana Football Association's CAF Licence A coaching programme, reflecting his continued effort to acquire the highest coaching credentials available within the African football system.
His first major national-team coaching assignment in Ghana came with the Black Starlets.
Kingston initially worked as an assistant coach before being appointed head coach of the Ghana U-17 side in 2024.
Kingston subsequently resigned from the position, bringing an end to his first major spell as a national-team head coach.
Experience abroad
He continued to build his experience abroad.
In 2024, he became head coach of RPS Academies in Florida, United States, where his responsibilities included overseeing the coaching structure and player development programme.
The move reinforced his growing reputation as a coach focused not only on results but also on developing young footballers.
In October 2025, Kingston took another major step when FUFA appointed him head coach of Uganda's men's junior national teams.
The position placed him in charge of Uganda's youth development pathway, including the U-15, U-17 and U-20 levels.
Kingston has since produced a notable result with Uganda, guiding the country's U-17 team to qualification for the 2026 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations.
Football career
Born in Accra on November 7, 1980, Kingston began his football journey in Ghana before establishing himself as one of the country's most prominent midfielders of his generation.
He played for Great Olympics and Hearts of Oak before embarking on a 13-year international club career that took him to Russia, Scotland, the Netherlands, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
His spell with Scottish club Hearts of Midlothian was particularly notable, while he also played for Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia and Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands.
Kingston eventually brought his professional playing career to an end after his time in the United States, having also featured for Phoenix FC.
At international level, Kingston progressed through Ghana's youth ranks before making the step up to the senior national team. He earned 42 caps for the Black Stars and represented Ghana at the 2006 and 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was part of the generation that helped establish Ghana as a major force in African football during the mid-2000s.
However, one of the most painful moments of his international career came when he was left out of Ghana's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Kingston later spoke openly about the disappointment of missing out on what would have been another major tournament appearance.
