Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
McDermott’s relationship with Queiroz goes back to 2011 and has spanned two spells in Iran and one in Qatar and now three different national teams in Ghana, but it was a mutual connection that set the ball rolling for the two to meet.
“Carlos was considering the Iran job in 2011 and my former head coach in the USL was Carlos’ long-term goalkeeping coach. I was already in the Middle East, working for a club team in Abu Dhabi and the conversation started, I met Carlos in Doha, we talked and me and two other staff members joined Carlos and explained to him the Iran job.”
Although he did not accompany Queiroz to Colombia or Egypt, instead taking charge at “mighty Glentoran” where he won an Irish Cup, McDermott did not hesitate to follow him to Qatar and now Ghana after a spell with Irish First Division side Cobh Ramblers.
“Here we are again, another brilliant project with a brilliant football nation. It’s an opportunity I don’t think anyone can say no to, to work with the Ghana football team and Carlos again, it’s been fantastic.”
While many managers and their coaching staff have months to plan everything from travel to squad selection for the World Cup, Queiroz and McDermott did not have that luxury.
Appointed in April, they did not work with their full 26-man squad until the end of May, with just one full training session before a 1-1 friendly draw against Wales on June 2 and a flight to the United States the following day.
“Logistics and travel were already in place, we changed them a bit. A large group of our players didn’t arrive until May 30 and we didn’t have a full training session until May 31.
“We stayed for two days, played Wales and flew to the US the next day. We had to submit a 26-man list before playing Wales but the players are great to work with.”
Their last-minute preparations didn’t seem to hamper things on the pitch, with Ghana beating Panama 1-0 in their first Group L game in Toronto, courtesy of Caleb Irenky’s 95th-minute winner.
McDermott was impressed with how the squad closed the pitch and their musical talents.
“When they’re together you can see from social media there’s a bond and that’s new to me. I’ve traveled to the Middle East, Asia, Ireland and the US and have done groups with good vibes but it’s hard to express. I stand sometimes and enjoy it.
“We were at the hotel the night before the Panama game and they have a tradition where after the training session they do a prayer and a song the day before their first game.
“The song went off the pitch and took a 30 minute bus ride to and from the hotel and once they started going, it went on for an hour and a half. When you see the positive energy it gives them good, my feet start tapping!”
