Victor Wanyama’s Support for Tottenham and Coaching Ambitions
Former Tottenham Hotspur player Victor Wanyama has expressed his belief that Roberto De Zerbi is the right manager to help the club avoid relegation and return to being a competitive force. Wanyama, who recently retired from professional football to focus on a coaching career, has closely followed De Zerbi’s journey through various clubs, including Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk, Brighton, and Marseille.
“I have studied him closely. Everywhere he has gone, he has improved teams,” said Wanyama. “I’ve long admired De Zerbi since I noticed what he was doing with Sassuolo. Look at Shakhtar, Brighton and Marseille. He changes sides, he moulds them so they’re not just survivors, they’re competitors.”
Wanyama believes De Zerbi is the ideal candidate to lead Tottenham. “I firmly believe he is the right man for Tottenham. He can keep them up, 100 per cent. He may need to compromise principles at first, but he is very experienced, he knows what is missing and what is necessary.”
The 34-year-old had a significant impact during his time at Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino. However, an injury sustained during a pre-season friendly at Wembley and later aggravated against Chelsea led to a four-month absence. The physical nature of his playing style meant he had to manage the wear and tear throughout his career.
“It’s been difficult for the coaches at Tottenham this season because of the amount of injuries they have had. They have had 10 to 15 players out at different times and that certainly didn’t help,” said Wanyama. “The club has tried different approaches but it’s tough when you don’t have all the squad back together.”
He suggested that bringing key players back would be crucial. “If they can get Kudus, Maddison and Bentancur back, they can play a big part in turning it around. Also getting Solanke back into a rhythm. It will make them much more solid as a unit when they have that threat.”
Wanyama was in London to watch Spurs lose to Liverpool in December but plans to support them again as the season reaches its climax. He considers his time at Spurs among the fondest of his career. While scoring the first Kenyan goal in the Champions League for Celtic against Barcelona remains a highlight, he also remembers making the final in Madrid with Pochettino’s side and scoring one of the last goals at White Hart Lane. Playing alongside Mousa Dembele was another memorable experience.
“I still keep in touch with some of the medical staff at Spurs and people who work in the offices,” said Wanyama from Nairobi. “Hopefully, I’ll be over for the Brighton game to support them.”
Wanyama is now focused on his own coaching career. The constant pain from his knee injuries led him to take a step back from playing. “I’ve been managing it for some time and it was time to walk away, not to stress any more. I had to go through a lot of pain over the years because of the position I play and how I like to play with physicality. Now I can’t wait to learn.”
He completed his UEFA B badge last year in Northern Ireland, studying alongside former Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone, ex-Sheffield Wednesday stopper David Stockdale, and Jos Hooiveld, the former Southampton centre-back. Wanyama is working towards his A badge and has already spoken to clubs in London as he looks to start his coaching career at academy level.
“I have my foundation here in Nairobi where I still work with young people and I’m training every day. I see working with the younger generation as the initial way forward for me then we will see. My dream is to coach in Europe. That has to be my goal.”
Wanyama’s return to the touchline could come sooner than expected, and he is confident that if it does, Tottenham will remain in the Premier League.
