Premier League’s top coaches vie for Zimbabwe job

Two Premier League’s well-known managers are reportedly among the 300 applicants for the Zimbabwe’ football team coaching job.

The post fell vacant after the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) sacked coach Michael Nees in October following a disastrous qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Under the German’s reign, the Warriors—boosting riches of talent and experience such as Marshall Munetsi, Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona—posted two wins in 14 games in all competitions.

Such a poor record set the alarm bells ringing considering that Zimbabwe are heading to Morocco for an even more challenging Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals this December.

With South African coach Pitso Mosimane available on the market, former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Alois Bunjira has vouched for the ex-Bafana Bafana handler to fill the void created by the German’s exit.

Now, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) online reports that the job has attracted interest far and wide with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknnap and ex-Norwich City’s Chris Hughton said to have applied for the job.

When will Zimbabwe FA announce new coach?

The window for applications closed on Thursday with an overwhelming number of applications, including Redknapp and Hughton, who previously managed the Black Stars of Ghana two years ago.

ZBC online suggests that ZIFA will announce the next coach in a matter of days considering the urgent need to fill the post ahead of the AFCON finals in Morocco.

Zimbabwe will play friendlies against Algeria and Qatar early November in the upcoming FIFA window. Specific dates of the matches are yet to be announced.

Time is not on the side of ZIFA to hire a substantive coach two months before the AFCON finals kick off in Morocco. The Warriors were drawn in a tough Group B comprising rivals South Africa, Angola and record-champions Egypt at the AFCON finals.