Walter Zenga, a former Italian national team, the Azzurri goalkeeper, has indicated an interest in replacing Gernot Rohr as the substantive head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Zenga, who has equally had a managerial spell at Italian Serie A side, Cagliari, is understood to have already submitted his resume, through his agent, to the Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
Alberto “Jimmy” Fontana, who is Zenga’s Intermediary, confirmed that 62-year-old Zenga, is interested in the three-time African champions’ coaching role, disclosing further that his client’s last job was at Cagliari.
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Zenga managed a number of clubs before Cagliari, including MLS side, New England Revolution; Brera Calcio (Italy); three Romanian clubs – National Bucuresti, Steaua Bucuresti, and Dinamo Bucuresti.
Others in the long list of clubs Zenga has managed are Al Ain (UAE), Red Star Belgrade (Sebia), Gaziantepspor (Turkey), Calcio Catania (Italy), Palermo (Italy), Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), A-Nasr CSC (Dubai), Al Jazira Club (UAE), Sampdoria (Italy), Al-Shaab CSC (UAE), Wolverhampton Wanderers (England), Crotone (Italy) and Vanezia (Italy).
Zenga, 61, was capped 58 times by Italy. He made 328 appearances for Inter Milan before proceeding to play for Salernitana, Savona, Sambenedettese, Sampdoria, Padova, and New England Revolution.
As a player, he won a Serie A title, one UEFA Cup, and an Italian Super Cup with Inter Milan. He also won Serbian Super Liga and Super Cup titles as the manager of Red Star Belgrade.
Super Eagles’ coaching job became vacant following the sacking of Franco-German gaffer, Gernot Rohr after a six-year tenure.
Augustine Eguavoen, the NFF Technical Director, was drafted in an interim arrangement to lead the Eagles to the 2021 AFCON finals in Cameroon in January. But despite a 100% performance in the group stage, Super Eagles agonizingly crashed out following a 1-0 defeat to the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in the Round of 16.
Eguavoen’s charges also failed to go past Black Stars of Ghana in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup African qualifying playoffs following a 1-1 draw in Abuja after a scoreless draw four days earlier in Kumasi.
With the painful reality of Nigeria not going to be part of the global football showpiece in Qatar, NFF has opted to employ another expatriate coach for the Super Eagles with the 2023 AFCON qualifiers being the next big assignment.
Zenga has applied to be the one to be entrusted with the future of the Super Eagles. He is vying for the Nigeria top job alongside a host of other European coaches including Portuguese gaffer, Jose Peseiro; former Netherlands international, Phillip Cocu; former France international/PSG coach, Laurent Blanc, and former Barcelona coach, Ernesto Valverde.
