Tinotenda Hove – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has officially appointed Marian (Mario) Marinica as the new head coach of the Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National Football Team, the Warriors, on a one-year contract.

In a statement released on Tuesday, ZIFA said it was “pleased to announce the appointment of Marian (Mario) Marinica as the new Head Coach of the Warriors,” highlighting his vast international experience and technical expertise.

Marinica, a UEFA Pro Licensed coach, brings over 25 years of coaching and technical experience across Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Coaching from South Bank University in England and a Diploma in Management, credentials that reflect both his technical skill and leadership ability.

Throughout his career, Marinica has worked with top clubs and national teams including Arsenal, Chelsea, Internazionale Milano, AS Monaco, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the Paraguay, Mauritius, Malawi, and Liberia national teams.

Under his guidance, Malawi reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, marking their best-ever finish, while Liberia became the highest climber in the FIFA Rankings in June 2024.

ZIFA President Ngobile Magwizi welcomed the new coach, saying: “We are delighted to welcome Coach Marinica to Zimbabwe. His wealth of experience, modern football philosophy, and proven results at international level make him the ideal candidate to lead the Warriors into a new era.”

Magwizi added that the appointment “reflects ZIFA’s commitment to building a competitive and sustainable football structure that delivers results both on and off the pitch.”

According to ZIFA, Marinica will assume his duties immediately and will oversee preparations for the upcoming friendly matches against Algeria and Qatar, as well as the AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign.