Zimbabwe Appoints Marian “Mario” Marinica on One-Year Deal
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has officially appointed Marian “Mario” Marinica(MMM) as the new head coach of the Zimbabwe senior men’s national team, the Warriors, ending weeks of speculation about who would take charge ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The 60-year-old Romanian tactician replaces Michael Nees, who was dismissed last month following a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign. Marinica has signed a one-year performance-based contract, with his immediate focus being to lead the Warriors during their upcoming international friendlies against Algeria and Qatar this November, before turning attention to AFCON in December.
ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi confirmed the appointment, praising Marinica’s wealth of experience and modern football philosophy:
“We are delighted to welcome Coach Marinica to Zimbabwe. His international experience, proven results, and commitment to developing both local and diaspora talent make him the ideal leader for this next phase of our football journey. His appointment reflects ZIFA’s commitment to building a competitive and sustainable football structure capable of delivering consistent results.”
MMM Professional Profile and Experience
Marinica holds a UEFA Pro Licence and boasts more than 25 years of technical and coaching experience across Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. He also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Coaching from South Bank University (UK) and a Diploma in Management.
He has previously worked with elite clubs and national teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan, AS Monaco, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the national teams of Paraguay, Mauritius, Malawi, and Liberia.
His most notable success came in 2022, when he guided Malawi to their best-ever AFCON finish — reaching the Round of 16. More recently, under his guidance, Liberia became the highest climber in FIFA’s world rankings in mid-2024.
Known for his “fast and very fast football” philosophy, Marinica emphasises discipline, tactical awareness, and intelligent use of limited resources — a style that earned him widespread respect across Africa.
MMM’s Vision
According to ZIFA insiders, Marinica impressed during the interviews with his detailed plan for empowering local coaches, enhancing youth pathways, and integrating diaspora talent into the national setup — key pillars of ZIFA’s long-term strategy.
He will begin work immediately, leading a training camp ahead of the Algeria friendly in Saudi Arabia on November 13, followed by the Qatar match on November 17.
As Zimbabwe prepare for their sixth AFCON appearance, the appointment of Marinica signals a fresh start for the Warriors. With his tactical precision, developmental mindset, and proven success in Africa, ZIFA hopes the Romanian will guide the team back to continental relevance — and restore pride in Zimbabwean football.