Samuel Ekoué Galé has officially been appointed as the new head coach of Kotoko FC of Lavié, marking an important step in the Togolese club’s ambitions to return to the top flight of national football. The club confirmed the appointment following his arrival in Lomé on April 24, 2019. Samuel Ekoué comes to Kotoko after a successful stint in Belgium, where he coached the reserve team at Royal Excelsior Mouscron in the Belgian First Division. His arrival in Togo was timely, as he participated in a friendly match against Étoile Filante, a 2-1 victory for Kotoko, before signing his three-year contract on April 29, 2019.
The new contract signals the club’s confidence in Ekoué’s ability to guide Kotoko FC back to the first division next season. With a three-year plan in place, the Togolese coach will officially begin his duties with his first training session scheduled for July. Ekoué brings a wealth of experience, both as a former player and as a coach, and his appointment reflects Kotoko’s ambition to combine strategic vision with proven technical expertise.
Ekoué’s playing career spanned multiple countries in Europe. He developed through the FC Metz Football Academy in France before moving to Germany, where he played for TSV Ronsdorf, Turu Düsseldorf, and Borussia Wuppertal, accumulating significant experience in German football from 1993 to 2003. He also had a stint in Qatar with Al Salita during the 2004-2005 season. Internationally, Ekoué represented Togo at both junior (1991-1993) and senior levels (1998-2000), and he trained initially at the Akoussah Academy in Togo, which laid the foundation for his technical understanding of the game.
His coaching career is equally impressive, reflecting a progressive climb through youth and reserve team systems across Belgium and France. He coached Neuville en Ferrain U16 Excellence in France (2008-2010) and later led several Belgian youth and reserve teams, including Royal Dottignies Sports Youth Academy (2006-2008), RFC Luingne U21 (2010-2011), and Royal Excelsior Mouscron’s U14/U16 and reserve teams (2011-2017). He also gained senior-level coaching experience in France with Roubaix Tourcoing Portugais during the 2016-2017 season.
Samuel Ekoué Galé’s dual Togolese-German citizenship and international exposure give him a unique perspective, blending European tactical methods with an understanding of local football culture. Kotoko FC’s management believes that his expertise, professionalism, and international experience will be critical in achieving their goal of promotion.
With the club already preparing for the upcoming season, Ekoué’s appointment represents a strategic investment in long-term success. Fans and players alike will look to him to instill discipline, tactical awareness, and ambition, guiding Kotoko FC through a competitive campaign and ultimately returning the club to the first division. Ekoué’s leadership, both on and off the field, promises a new chapter in the history of Kotoko FC.
