Story written by Lungelo Mahlaba
Former Orlando Pirates and Raja Casablanca head coach Jozef Zinnbauer is reportedly close to parting ways with the Saudi Arabian club.
According to the latest reports, Al Wehda are believed to be looking to dismiss Jozef Zinnbauer due to a poor start in the 2024/25 season.
The 54-year-old German born coach only joined the club at the beginning of this season after leaving the Moroccan giants, Raja Casablanca.
In just a short space of time, the Saudi Arabian Pro League has became one of the most competitive leagues in the world as clubs like Al Hilal has signed top players including Neymar Jr, Malcolm, Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, Renan Lodi, Kalidou Koulibaly and also Joao Cancelo.
Al Hilalʼs rivals have also beefed up their squad as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane also playing in the league.
Top clubs in Saudi Arabia signing high quality players has made things more difficult in the league, leading the coaches to work under a lot of pressure.
Jozef Zinnbauer is unfortunate to be one of those coaches who are under pressure to deliver, however, things are not going the coachʼs way.
Jozef Zinnbauerʼs side, Al Wehda, are currently sitting in the 16th position, which is in the relegation zone. In just four games, they have four points and have conceded already 14 goals.
Just few days ago, they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Cristiano Ronaldoʼs club, Al Nassr. They were also humiliated by Al Ittihad few weeks ago as they lost by 7-1, where the former Real Madrid and France striker Kerim Benzema score a hattrick.
Jozef Zinnbauer joined Al Wehda at the end of July 2024 and has officiated just six games at the club. However, it looks like it is already the end of the road for the German born coach.
Before joining the Saudi Arabian side, Jozef Zinnbauer did well for himself in the Moroccan side Raja Casablanca.
JOZEF ZINNBAUERʼS CAREER AS A COACH
The former Mainz 05 midfielder has been all over the world in the past few years as he has already managed in Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Russia, Morocco and is now at Saudi Arabia.
Just 10 years ago, the 54-year-old was given a chance to manage to senior team at Hamburger SV. Unfortunately, he only managed the club for just six months.
He left Germany back in September 2015 after receiving an offer from the Switzerland giants, St. Gallen. He spent almost two years in Switzerland before leaving the club in May 2017.
After being dumped by St. Gallens, Jozef Zinnbauer was letter without a club for over two years. That is when he joined Orlando Pirates and was able to turn things around at the Buccaneers.
Due to some technical issues at the Buccaneers, Jozef Zinnbauer resigned in August 2021. He then joined the Russian side, Lokomotiv Moscow almost a year later.
His stay at Lokomotiv Moscow was however cut short after being shown an exit door just three months after being appointed as the new head coach.
The Saudi Arabian side, Al Wehda, are yet to release an official statement regarding the future of the player, however, the club are ready to release him.
