Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has taken his first official steps into the world of coaching by enrolling in the UEFA B Diploma course, hosted by the Irish FA.

The ex-Tottenham and Montreal Impact midfielder is in good company, linking up with a few familiar faces from his Celtic days, and even a former Rangers rival.

Wanyama was spotted alongside Jos Hooiveld, the Dutch defender who had a brief and testing stint at Celtic, and Greg Stewart, the ex-Rangers forward who has found new life in the Indian Super League. They are part of a variety of current and former players looking to transition from the pitch to the dugout.

From teammates to classmates

Hooiveld, who joined Celtic in 2010, left just months before Wanyama arrived from Beerschot in 2011. Their time as Hoops teammates was short, but they reconnected in 2013 when both turned out for Southampton in the Premier League. Now, over a decade later, they are reunited, this time not as players, but as students of the game.

“Going for the badges with some old friends! ” Hooiveld posted on Instagram, sharing a group photo that has since been making the rounds on football socials.

Also pictured is Danny Holla, formerly of Brighton, and Jimmy Conrad, the well-known former USA international turned content creator.

Wanyama remains one of Kenya’s most celebrated players, famously becoming the first Kenyan to score in the UEFA Champions League during his time at Celtic. He captained the national team and led them to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Now, Wanyama seems ready to give back to the sport that’s given him so much. Though he has kept a relatively low profile since retiring from international football in 2021, this move into coaching suggests he is laying the groundwork for a second act.