The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has named Romanian tactician Marian Marinica as the new head coach of the Warriors on a 12-month contract.
He has the immediate task of guiding the national team through the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Morocco.
The 59-year-old takes over from Michael Nees, who parted ways with Zimbabwe after a disappointing run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where the team failed to secure a win.
ZIFA described the move as part of efforts to “rebuild the Warriors and restore continental competitiveness.”
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Marian (Mario) Marinica as the new Head Coach of the Zimbabwe Senior Men’s National Football Team, the Warriors, on a one-year contract,” the association said in an official statement.
His first assignments will be international friendlies against Algeria and Qatar, before turning attention to Zimbabwe’s AFCON group-stage campaign against Egypt, South Africa, and Angola.
A holder of the UEFA Pro Licence, Marinica boasts over 25 years of coaching experience across Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America.
He previously managed Malawi, leading them to the Round of 16 at the 2021/22 AFCON, their best-ever finish.
Marinica later worked with Liberia, helping them record a major leap in the FIFA World Rankings in June 2024.
