The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) are this morning expected to announce the appointment of Chelsea boss Avram Grant as the new Chipolopolo head coach.
Grant arrived in the country on Wednesday ahead of his official unveiling as Chipolopolo head coach this morning.
The former Ghana head coach is expected to be unveiled at a press conference this morning at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.
Grant emerged as the frontrunner ahead of locals and former National Team coaches Honor Janza and Wedson Nyirenda.
In 2008, in April, he was named Premier League manager of the month and later led Chelsea to the Champions League final but drew 1-1 with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United before losing 6-5 on penalties after John Terry slipped on the fifth penalty on a rainy day in Moscow and three days later the contract of the Israeli was terminated at the London club on 24th May.
In 2015, he guided the Black Stars of Ghana to the Africa Cup of Nations final but lost on penalties to Ivory Coast.
The Chipolopolo top job attracted an influx of over 100 applicants including former coach Sven Ludwig Vandenbroeck, former Al Ahly and Egypt boss Hossam Albadry, former Liberia boss Antoine Hey, English man Peter Butler, French man Sebastian Migne and Gert Engels.
A panel of experts comprising FAZ representatives, government, and the Zambia Football Coaches Association (ZAFCA) interviewed and surfed through the candidates to come up with the next coach.
The Chipolopolo Boys top job fell vacant following the departure of Croatian gaffer Aljosa Asanovic in October.
Grant is expected to be given the mandate of guiding the 2012 Champions back to the continental showpiece after a three time consecutive absence.
The ZamFoot Crew understands that Grant will sign a two year performance based contract.
Moses Sichone who has been in charge of the team in the interim is expected to retain his position as first assistant coach.
Zambia will be back in action next year as the Ivory Coast 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers resume in March, 2023.
Its good to hear chipolopolo has a new coach former Chelsea boss, my views to faz 1: tendance of hiring and firing b4 his tenure should stop 2: the new coach hunt for all players outside zambia and africa be called to make a national team for world cup duties while players in africa be assembled for africa cup duties while players various clubs in zambia be for clubs championship cup duties with this zambia will move to another level because 2022 world cup has taught us a lesson to see especially teams like Morocco and France Mr Grant our new coach should not ignore this suggestion if zambia can be on the world map like African giants Morocco. Give yours on this matter