Micheal oti Adjei BBC Sport, Accra

Barreto's decision has stunned Ghana's football community

Ghana is looking for its fifth coach in just under two years after Portuguese Mariano Barreto quit unexpectedly on Tuesday.

His decision to return home and manage clubside Maritimo is a development that has shocked Ghana's football community.

"I am completely shocked and sad about the news. It's difficult to believe it. It sounds like a complete dream," said former African Player of the Year Abedi Pele.

Ghana Football Association (GFA) vice-chairman Kwesi Nyantekyi shares Pele's surprise.

"The news shocked all of us and we initially thought it was a media gimmick.

"We have a contract with Barreto and we would not be happy if what we are hearing turns out to be true."

I am completely shocked and sad Abedi Pele

While GFA officials told BBC Sport that Barreto was unhappy with the media criticism over his performance and had disagreed with them over certain team matters, they had not detected his desire to leave the country.

Barreto began his stint with Ghana on an uncomfortable note, when some journalists questioned his credentials and claimed that he had falsified his career history.

But the GFA were convinced they had found the right man for the job by giving him a contract at the start of the year.

His major achievement was to pilot Ghana to an Olympic ticket but in a country where football is a national passion, their failure to go beyond the preliminaries did his reputation no favours.

The timing of Barreto's departure, after he led the country to the top of its World Cup qualifying group, has only added to the growing myth surrounding the national manager's job.

Revolving door

With four managers - including Barreto - leaving the post in the last two years and in mysterious circumstances, many are beginning to believe the job is a poisoned chalice.

Like Barreto, Yugoslav Milan Zivadinovic also made a sudden departure without informing his employers.

Zivadinovic also left Ghana in mysterious circumstances

German Burkhard Ziese, who took over from Zivadinovic, is still contesting the legality of the GFA's decision to sack him after they failed to qualify for the 2004 Cup of Nations.

And Ralf Zumdick, who helped the Black Stars qualify for the group stages of the 2006 qualifiers, declined to extend his contract, preferring to become the assistant manager of German clubside Hamburg.

While many experts blame the GFA's poor management practices for the revolving door of foreign coaches, other point to local coaches as the answer to stability.

In their opinion, their patriotic commitment to Ghana's cause will be a refreshing contrast to foreigners, who will abandon the country whenever a better opportunity presents itself.

Although the GFA released a statement assuring Ghanaians that their "dream to qualify for the 2006 World Cup remains on course" despite Baretto's departure, many are sceptical of the future.

The high turnover of national team coaches means the Black Stars lack the managerial stability needed to effect a long-term plan for success.

That is a prospect Ghanaian fans will not be looking forward to, as it could undo the hard work taken to get the Black Stars to the top of their World Cup qualifying group.

With local coach Sam Arday only taking temporary charge for their 10 October World Cup qualifier against DR Congo - the GFA are under serious pressure to recruit a man that can build on Barreto's achievement in the long-term.