New CF Montreal head coach speaks glowingly about Victor Wanyama

Newly appointed CF Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois has praised ex-Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama just weeks after landing the managerial job at the Major League Soccer outfit.

Courtois, who took charge of the Canadian side on Monday, January 8, 2024, has described Wanyama as an extremely down-to-earth guy despite the high-profile career the former Kenyan international has had having notably played for Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Celtic among other clubs.

“He has been coached by Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho, but he is so generous and kind to me. I would not have been like that at his age if Pochettino and Mourinho had coached me,” Courtois stated. 

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The 45-year-old also spoke glowingly about how the Kamukunji High School product carries himself off the pitch.

“He is so professional off the field as well. It is a beautiful lesson in humility that he gives me,” Courtois was quoted by the Globe and Mail.

Wanyama is starting to enjoy life under the former French national team player after enduring a difficult spell under Hernán Losada who was fired in November 2023. 

The 32-year-old struggled to find game time during Losada’s tenure, missing some important fixtures.  

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However, Wanyama seems to have put those challenges behind him as he recently scored an equalizer for FC Montreal in a Desert Showcase match against Minnesota United played on Sunday at the Kino Sports Complex. 

The player, who made over 150 Premier League appearances for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, found the back of the net in the final moments of that match which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Wanyama is expected to play a crucial role for CF Montreal in the upcoming season which is scheduled to start on February 24.

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The club will open its campaign away to Orlando SC before locking horns with FC Dallas in the first week of March.

Courtois expects his charges to continue improving their game and do wonders under his watchful eyes.

According to him, CF Montreal players have the necessary tools to become a complete team and win trophies

“Even though we are going to play risky soccer. We do not care, they have all the tools in their hands to be really competitive and hopefully, I can help them to unleash that,” he concluded.

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