The Gambia Football Federation has confirmed the appointment of Jonathan McKinstry as their new head coach of the national team.
The UEFA PRO License holder, who has previously led Gor Mahia to clinch the Kenyan Premier League title, is set to take over from Tom Saintfiet after Gambia’s exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Jonathan, aged 38, has previously coached Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Rwanda. He is currently the manager of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya and will assume the role with the Scorpions from June 1, 2024.
In the August 2014 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the Leone Stars ranked 50th in the world and also broken into the top 10 teams on the continent. They were in seventh place under the management of the Irish coach.
The Northern Irish coach has signed a two-year contract and has been tasked with qualifying The Gambia for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Jonathan previously coached the Uganda national team, Saif SC in Bangladesh, and the Lithuanian club Kauno Zalgiris, with early career roles in youth development at Newcastle United, New York Red Bulls, the Right to Dream Academy, and the Craig Bellamy Foundation.
The @TheGambiaFF has confirmed the appointment of @johnnymckinstry as their new head coach of the national team.
— Alie Bittar (@bittar32) May 22, 2024
The former coach of Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Rwanda, is currently managing Gor Mahia FC in Kenya and will assume the role from June 1, 2024 pic.twitter.com/EzX0gF8YSh
