Aljoša Asanović has been named the new Head of the Zambia Football National Team. The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Winners chose not to renew former Nkana Rangers boss Beston Chambeshi’s contract last month after the team failed to qualify for both the World Cup and Afcon tournaments being held this year. This will be the first full time managerial position following more than 20 years of technical roles around Europe and 6 months as Technical Director with the national team.
Who is Aljoša Asanović
Asanović featured in 62 caps for his country and is one of the most well regarded Croatian players in the country’s footballing history. In fact he was the first person to score a goal for Croatia following the country’s split from Yugoslavia in 1991. He represented his nation at the Euro ‘96 and the 1998 World Cup where Croatia finished third. Over the course of his club career he played in Croatia, France, Italy and England, enjoying spells at Hajduk Split, Montpellier, Napoli, Panathinaikos, and Derby County. He won 62 caps for his country before moving into coaching.
When asked about his role he simply stated : “It was a great honour for me to work in the Croatian Football Federation, but the time has come for new challenges in my coaching career. I would like to thank Davor Šuker for the recommendation and the leaders of the Zambian Football Federation for their trust, and in September I will have my first duties in my new position.”
What does this mean for Zambia ?
If one were to assume anything based on his time playing professionally, Asanović could be regarded as a maestro and master tactician. He is particularly famous for a cross field assist in the 1998 World Cup semi-final against the eventual winners, France. Though this will be Asanović’s first official managerial role he has more than 20 years including roles as Assistant Manager at Lokomotiv Moscow and for the Croatia National Team. This means he is one of the most experienced coaches in Zambia’s recent history and his experience in the backroom will likely result in a more tactical Chipolopolo.
Currently the team is experiencing a golden generation, with the likes of Premier League Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu. There are high hopes throughout the country and this expectation is likely to grow as more Zambian players gain international recognition. Asanović will need to create a winning formula to maximise this talented team. Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard built his reputation by making the Zambian Football Team a force to deal with. We are hoping this new appointment will come with more positive changes for the team.