Despite not qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, Kenya has had many brilliant coaches.
Before the likes of Jacob "Ghost" Mulee and Reinhard Fabisch, there was one Eckhard Krautzun.
Krautzun, a German international is not only credited for introducing a myriad of changes to Kenya's football sector, but for also helping the country qualify for its maiden African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1972.
Also Read: How the Name Harambee Stars Came About
After his appointment in 1970, Krautzun, who was aged 29, introduced new formations (4-3-3, and 4-4-2) and a goalkeeping coach.
Some of the players who played under the tutelage of Krautzun included Charles Makunda, Jonathan Niva, William "Chege" Ouma, James Sianga, and John Chore.
Notably, during the qualifying match against Ethiopia, some of the players were injured and had to be hospitalized when fans attacked Harambee Stars players in the second leg match which was staged in Addis Ababa
Krautzun himself was injured on the head in a match in which Harambee Stars bagged all three points.
In the post-match press conference, Krautzun described the Ethiopian fans as the worst he had ever met in his managerial career.
"This is the worst I have seen in coaching in many, many countries. The fans behaved like wild animals," he was quoted by Standard Media then.
Kenya went on to qualify for the AFCON tournament which was staged in Cameroon.
Harambee Stars were pooled in a tough Group A alongside the hosts Cameroon, Togo, and Mali.
At the tournament, Kenya made an exit at the group stage after picking up a 1-1 draw with Togo and Mali and losing 2-1 in the hands of Indomitable lions.
Krautzun then left after the expiry of his contract leaving Niva to act as a tactician and a player.
He went on to coach other teams including Malaysia, Canada, and Philippines. His biggest achievement in international football came in 2002 when he helped Tunisia qualify for the World Cup.
Some of the top European clubs that Krautzun has previously tutored after his stint with Harambee Stars include Mainz O5, VFL Wolfsberg, and Union Berlin.