---
title: "Eric Wynalda: ‘I still believe Estonia is a country with immense potential’"
date: 2026-11-11T18:49:59Z
lang: en
author: "Robin Hosman"
canonical: https://balticfootballnews.com/eric-wynalda-i-still-believe-estonia-is-a-country-with-immense-potential/
categories: ["Interviews", "Premium liiga"]
---

# Eric Wynalda: ‘I still believe Estonia is a country with immense potential’
**Eric Wynalda says Nõmme United have decided to go in a different direction after his two-month spell as head coach, during which he helped the club secure their place in the Premium Liiga. The American reflected on his departure and Estonian football in an interview with Baltic Football News.**

by Robin Hosman

Wynalda was appointed Nõmme United manager on the 7th September, but the club informed him on 11th November that his services were no longer required. His spell ended after United secured their top-flight status with a draw away to Kuressaare on the final matchday, avoiding the relegation play-offs.

The American explained that his connection with Estonian football began through his own academy in the United States, which primarily works with 16 and 17-year-old players. In April 2026, he invited former Estonia international Mart Poom to New York after arranging an exhibition match against the New York Red Bulls academy.

Poom was impressed by the young players, and the two subsequently developed a relationship. Wynalda later travelled to Estonia for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where he also had the opportunity to learn more about Nõmme United and Estonian football.

Wynalda wanted United to adopt a more proactive approach, moving away from a defensive style based on counter-attacks. He believed the squad had the ability to play more aggressively and wanted his players to press opponents, defend one-on-one and approach matches without fear.

His first league match brought a historic victory over Kalju in the Nõmme derby. Wynalda said the tactical and mental approach was designed to test the players in open situations and demonstrate that they could compete against stronger opponents.

He also highlighted the importance of putting players in positions where they could make the most of their abilities, mentioning Zakaria Beglarishvili as an example.

However, his departure from the club left him disappointed with how the decision was communicated.

“I found it very interesting that after four days, not one message from the owner, Ivar, to congratulate me or to congratulate the team or to even thank me for the two months of my life that I just dedicated to helping his club stay in the first division. But I got the message from somebody else,” Wynalda said.

“He didn’t even have the class to call me and tell me himself. Nõmme is the only club that I could even foresee ever working with because of Mart Poom. That’s the only reason why I was there.”

Despite the circumstances surrounding his departure, Wynalda remains positive about Estonia’s potential. He identified infrastructure as one of the country’s biggest problems, pointing to a lack of suitable stadiums and training facilities.

He praised the quality of some of the league’s teams, singling out FCI Levadia for having a strong squad, a good coach and a clear playing philosophy. He also recognised the qualities of Paide, Flora, Tammeka and Harju, although he believes many clubs lack the facilities needed to operate at a fully professional level.

Wynalda compared the situation to football in the United States during the 1990s, when the sport was still outside the mainstream and professional matches were sometimes played on high school pitches.

He also called for changes to the political structures and practices that he believes are holding Estonian football back.

Reflecting on criticism of his tactical approach at Nõmme United, Wynalda explained that different opponents required different strategies. He acknowledged that the team’s performances were not always consistent, but argued that the immediate priority was securing survival.

“The task at hand was to stay in the league and in order to do that, it requires a specific skill set. And it had much more to do with man management than coaching. I think my coaching staff struggled with that,” he said.

Wynalda felt there was too much information being given to the players at a time when they needed clarity and confidence. He praised the work of his coaching staff but believed their approach was not suited to the circumstances, given the limited time available.

He added that a full pre-season would have allowed him to introduce a more detailed playing model and tactical strategies. Under the circumstances, however, he wanted to simplify the instructions and give players the freedom to use their strengths.

Wynalda believes his time at the club demonstrated that the Nõmme United players were capable of more than they had previously realised.

“If anything, it proves to the players of Nõmme United that they’re far better than they thought, they really were because some of their performances were absolutely terrific,” he said.