The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has announced the appointment of Romanian tactician 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 announcement, made Tuesday, marks Marinica’s return to Southern African football just over two years after his controversial exit from Malawi.

Marinica, 61, was dismissed by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) in April 2023 following a string of poor results in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. His tenure ended after back-to-back defeats to Egypt — a 2-1 loss in Cairo on March 24 and a crushing 4-0 defeat at home at Bingu National Stadium on March 28. The losses sparked public outrage, with fans staging protests and calling for the resignation of both Marinica and FAM President Walter Nyamilandu Manda.

Despite the sour ending, Marinica’s time in Malawi was not without highlights. He is credited with leading the Flames to a historic Round of 16 finish at the 2021 AFCON tournament in Cameroon — Malawi’s best-ever performance at the continental showpiece. His tactical approach, dubbed “fast and very fast football,” earned praise during the tournament, where Malawi stunned Senegal with a goalless draw and defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in the group stage.

ZIFA expressed confidence in Marinica’s qualifications, experience and regional familiarity, stating that throughout his “distinguished” career, he has worked with several prestigious clubs and national teams.

“A highly accomplished UEFA Pro Licensed coach, Marinica brings over 25 years of international coaching and technical experience across four continents – Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Coaching from South Bank University (England) and a Diploma in Management, underlining a blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership. Throughout his distinguished career, Marinica has worked with several prestigious clubs and national teams including Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC, Internazionale Milano, AS Monaco, Liverpool FC, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the Paraguay, Mauritius, Malawi, and Liberia national teams,” ZIFA said in a press statement.

The Romanian’s background also includes serving as a Technical Director, Coach Educator, and Performance Consultant, with deep expertise in player development, match analysis, and grassroots structures. His track record of empowering local coaches and integrating diaspora talent aligns closely with ZIFA’s long-term football development strategy.

Speaking on the appointment, ZIFA President Ngobile Magwizi said:

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

Marinica’s immediate task will be preparing the Warriors for the 2025 AFCON campaign scheduled for next month. His appointment has sparked mixed reactions among Zimbabwean football fans, with some hopeful that his previous success with Malawi could translate into a revival for the Warriors, while others remain cautious given his recent setbacks.

As the Warriors embark on a new chapter, all eyes will be on Marinica to see whether he can replicate past glories and steer Zimbabwe back to the top tier of African football.