Otto Addo: How Ghanaian coach shaped the careers of Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham

Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham's quick ascension to the top of football has seen the former Dortmund stars enter the conversation for who the next Ballon d'or winner will be, with Lionel Messi picking what could possibly be his last, in Paris on Monday night.

The Manchester City forward only fell short of winning the award after finishing second on the podium while Bellingham is currently the best player below the age of 21, after scooping the Kopa Trophy at the 67th Ballon d'Or.

Despite placing second on the Ballon d'Or ranking, Haaland left the Theatre du Chatete with the Gerd Muller Trophy.

At the ages of 20 and 23, Haaland and Bellingham are having a good 2023/24 season with their clubs Manchester City and Real Madrid respectively. Over the weekend, both players scored a brace in the biggest games in England and Spain.

Their success can be attributed to a key figure at Borussia Dortmund, Otto Addo.

Addo is fondly remembered for qualifying Ghana to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and coaching the team in Qatar.

However, his work with Bundesliga giants Dortmund, has led to the production of several youngsters with Haaland and Bellingham, the most recognised ones. Gio Reyna, Jadon Sancho and Son Heung-min (Hamburger SV) all passed through the hands of the former Ghana coach.

How Otto Addo shaped the careers of Haaland and Bellingham

Otto Addo is the man in charge of overseeing the progress of players from the youth team to the senior side of Dortmund.

He also engages in the man management of players by helping them transition easily to top level football.

Haaland in an earlier interview stated the importance of Addo in his career after making his big move to City.

“That’s the biggest legend. If we talk about the biggest legends in this club, this guy, he’s the best one,” Haaland stated, via quotes by Ghana Soccernet. “He is the best.”
The Norwegian forward gifted Addo a pair of Jordans in appreciation of the role he played in his career.

Meanwhile, Bellingham was full of praise for Addo, stating he is the key man at Dortmund.

“The way they (Dortmund) integrate young players into the first-team squad is next level. There is not a club in Europe that does it quite like them,” he said in 2020, as quoted by The Guardian.”

The way they are pushed and can also be reeled back in. They can review your performances. There is a person there for every player, especially Otto [Addo, the former Dortmund and Ghana striker], who has worked with the young players. He is great,” he added.

Bellingham's growth and Haaland's sharpness is a testament to Addo's critical role in coaching.