The Zimbabwe Football Association has appointed Spanish coach Ramón Catalá as the new head coach of the senior men’s national team, the Warriors, as the association restructures its technical teams ahead of upcoming international assignments.
Catalá will be supported by Marc Sánchez, who will also oversee the Zimbabwe Under-23 side. CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi has been named the second assistant, according to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
The appointment brings an end to Kaitano Tembo’s interim spell in charge of the Warriors. Tembo has been reassigned to lead Zimbabwe’s Under-20 men’s team as part of the latest changes across the national-team structures.
Catalá inherits a Warriors side preparing for a demanding return to competitive action. Zimbabwe is scheduled to resume its campaign in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month, giving the new coach limited time to establish his methods and assess the squad.
His immediate task will be to restore stability and build a competitive team capable of navigating the qualifying campaign. The appointment also places pressure on ZIFA to ensure that Catalá receives the institutional support, preparation time and resources required to succeed.
The coaching changes extend to the women’s and junior national teams. Croatian coach Stella Gotal has been appointed to lead the Mighty Warriors, while Rosemary Mugadza will take charge of the Under-20 women’s side, assisted by Naison Muchekela. Jatson Maphosa and Irene Mwanza have been appointed to lead the Under-17 and Under-15 women’s teams, respectively.
With the Warriors’ AFCON qualifiers approaching, Catalá’s first major challenge will be to turn a fresh appointment into meaningful results.
Zimbabwean supporters will now look to the Spanish coach to provide direction, consistency and renewed ambition to a national team seeking progress on the international stage.
