Over 10-Year Experience: Profile of Black Stars Interim Head Coach Kim Lars Björkegren

According to GhanaWeb on Friday, October 23, 2026, Swedish football coach Kim Lars Björkegren has attracted attention following his appointment as the interim head coach of Ghana’s senior men’s national team, the Black Stars. The experienced tactician has been tasked with leading the team in their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Somalia as the Ghana Football Association (GFA) continues its search for a permanent head coach.

Björkegren brings extensive coaching experience to the position, having worked in different countries and football environments throughout his career. Before taking charge of the Black Stars on an interim basis, he was already serving as the head coach of Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, a position he assumed in 2025.

Born in Sweden, Björkegren initially pursued a career as a footballer. However, an injury at the age of 22 ended his playing ambitions and prompted him to turn his attention towards coaching. He subsequently developed his skills and gained experience across several leagues, eventually earning a UEFA A coaching licence.

His coaching journey has taken him through Sweden, China, Cyprus and the United States, where he worked with both established teams and developing football projects. These experiences have helped him build an international coaching profile and understand different approaches to preparing teams for competition.

One of the notable achievements in his career came in Sweden, where he guided Linköping FC to the Damallsvenskan title in 2017. He later moved to China to coach Beijing BG Phoenix before taking charge of Apollon Ladies in Cyprus. During the 2020/21 season, he led Apollon Ladies to the Cypriot women’s league title and was named Coach of the Season in Cyprus.

Björkegren also worked with Racing Louisville in the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League. In addition, he gained experience in scouting and analysis with Finland’s women’s national team, further broadening his understanding of international football.

His appointment as Black Queens coach marked his first major coaching role in African football. Under his leadership, Ghana’s women’s team won bronze at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, returning to the continental podium after several years without a medal. His work with the team has contributed to his growing reputation within Ghanaian football.

Björkegren’s new responsibility with the Black Stars follows Ghana’s disappointing start to the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. The team suffered defeats against Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia in their opening matches, increasing pressure on the technical department and prompting the departure of former head coach Carlos Queiroz.

The GFA subsequently appointed Björkegren to lead an interim technical team that includes former Ghana internationals Ibrahim Tanko and Godwin Attram as assistant coaches, with former Black Stars goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda serving as goalkeeping coach. The arrangement is intended to cover the November qualifying fixtures against Somalia while the search for a permanent head coach continues.

The appointment has attracted interest because Björkegren is now responsible for both the men’s and women’s senior national teams during an important period for Ghanaian football. While the Black Stars are attempting to revive their AFCON qualifying campaign, the Black Queens are also preparing for their own international commitments.

His immediate task will be to organise the Black Stars, improve their performances and help the team secure positive results against Somalia. With his international coaching background and previous experience working within Ghana’s football system, Björkegren now faces an important opportunity to demonstrate his ability to manage the country’s senior men’s team.

Although his appointment is temporary, the coming matches will provide an opportunity for the Swedish coach to make an impression as the GFA works towards appointing a permanent successor to Queiroz.

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