The search for Uganda Cranes head coach is over after the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) on Monday unveiled Irish Johnathan Mckinstry.
Mckinstry replaces Sébastien Desabre who now manages Egyptian Premier League club Pyramids FC after quitting the Cranes job in July this year.
The Irishman is former coach of Bangladesh’s Saif Sporting Club where he spent a year.
He was unveiled at a special press conference at the FUFA head offices in Mengo, Kampala.
Mckinstry was International Manager and Head Coach of the Rwanda National Football Team (2015-16). Within just 17 months he led Rwanda to a number of highs – including their first ever appearance in the knockout stages of a major international tournament (Quarter-finals of CHAN, Jan 2016) and finished runner-up in CECAFA (Dec 2105), being named ‘Coach of the Tournament’ for his efforts.
He was Head Coach of the Sierra Leone National Men’s Football team (2013-14). Within just over a year, he had led Sierra Leone to their highest ever FIFA World and African rankings – 7th in Africa and 50th in the World (August 2014). He was Head Coach of Saif Sporting Club, Bangladesh Premier League (2018-19); and FK Kauno Zalgiris, Lithuanian A-Lyga (2017-18). He set up and developed the Craig Bellamy Elite Soccer Academy in Sierra Leone (2010-2014) placing elite young players in Europe, Asia and North America. He is a European (UEFA), American (NSCAA) and university qualified football coach.
