Camacho’s last managerial role was with the Chinese men’s national football team. According to African media outlets, his contract with Gabon comes with a modest annual salary of just 800,000 euros. Notably, Camacho recently received a long-overdue termination payout from the Chinese Football Association, amounting to nearly 50 million yuan. On Thursday local time, Camacho was officially introduced as Gabon’s new head coach, replacing Portuguese coach Jorge Costa.

Nigerian outlet pulse.ng also reported the two-year agreement. Camacho and his assistants are expected to guide Gabon through the 2018 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers. Currently, Gabon sits second in Group C after two consecutive draws in their opening matches. In addition to the World Cup qualifiers, Camacho will lead the team in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, which Gabon is hosting. Of note, Tianjin Teda forward Malick Evouna is an active member of the Gabon national team.

Camacho’s time with China remains one of the most controversial periods in the nation’s football history. Appointed in August 2011, he led the Chinese national team in 20 official matches, recording 7 wins, 2 draws, and 11 losses. Under his leadership, China not only failed to qualify for the 2014 Brazil World Cup, but also suffered humiliating defeats such as a 1-5 loss to Thailand and a crushing 0-8 defeat to Brazil. These performances pushed China’s FIFA ranking to a historic low, cementing Camacho’s legacy as one of the team’s most unsuccessful coaches.

After his dismissal in 2013, Camacho was linked with roles in Mexico, Indonesia, and Spain but never returned to management—until now. His appointment as Gabon’s head coach marks a new chapter after years of uncertainty. For viewers following Bangla Cricket Live, this surprising comeback has added intrigue to Gabon’s World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations campaigns.