Rodolfo Zapata

Rodolfo Zapata
Personal information
Full name Rodolfo Zapata
Date of birth (1966-05-01) 1 May 1966 (age 60)
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Position Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Thimphu City (head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Huracán
Sportivo Italiano
Racing de Olavarría
San Miguel
Cipolletti
Managerial career
2010 Sunshine Stars
2011–2012 Mpumalanga Black Aces
2016–2017 Gaborone United
2018 AFC Leopards
2019 Township Rollers
2021 Mukura Victory Sports
2022–2023 Fiji U20
2024–2025 Montego Bay United
2026– Thimphu City
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rodolfo Zapata (born 1 May 1966) is an Argentine professional football manager and former player who is the head coach of Bhutan Premier League club Thimphu City.

He holds Argentine Football Association and CONMEBOL PRO coaching licenses.

Playing career

Zapata began his playing career as a goalkeeper in the Argentinian Primera B Nacional. He played for Huracán, Sportivo Italiano, Racing de Olavarría, San Miguel and Cipolletti.

Managerial career

Canada

In 2000, Zapata taught seminars for coaches and players development in the cities of Calgary and Edmonton that were promoted by the Alberta Soccer Association. He also planned and coordinated activities of coaching staff.

United States

In 2001, he was the head coach of United Nations International School in New York City. He was head coach of the USA Olympic Development Program from 2001 to 2009, a national program for identifying and developing youth football players to represent the United States in international competitions.

Sunshine Stars

In January 2010, he was appointed head coach of Nigeria Professional Football League side Sunshine Stars.

Mpumalanga Black Aces

For the 2011–12 season, Rodolfo was appointed as head coach of Mpumalanga Black Aces of the South African National First Division.

Return to the United States

In September 2012, Zapata returned to the United States as head coach of the United States Youth Soccer Association and the New Jersey Youth Soccer Association. His role was the identification and recruitment of young players.

Gaborone United

From 2016 to 2018, Zapata was head coach of Gaborone United of the Botswana Premier League. The club suffered financial and internal troubles during his time. He contributed to the progress of fifteen under-23 players into the first team, while avoiding relegation.

AFC Leopards

In May 2018, AFC Leopards announced Zapata as their new head coach for the remainder of the Kenyan Premier League season.

Township Rollers

In 2019, Zapata was appointed as the new head coach of Township Rollers in Botswana. He won the 2018–19 Botswana Premier League with the club. As a result, Township Rollers qualified for the 2019–20 CAF Champions League. As head coach, Zapata oversaw a possession-based and attacking style of play.

Mukura Victory Sports

In March 2021, Rodolfo joined Mukura Victory Sports of the Rwanda Premier League.

Fiji Football Association

After his experience in Rwanda, Zapata signed as head coach of the Fiji national under-20 team for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Montego Bay United

Zapata joined Montego Bay United of the Jamaica Premier League ahead of the 2024–25 season. At the time of his departure, Montego Bay United were third in the league.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.kickoff.com/world-news/around-the-world/former-psl-coach-rodolfo-zapata-takes-on-new-coaching-gig-in-asia
  2. ↑ "Rodolfo Zapata appointed coach of Fiji U20 - Fiji Village".
  3. ↑ "Rodolfo Zapata candidate to coach in Ghana - Modern Ghana". 20 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "El DT argentino de la ONU - Modern Ghana". 28 February 2004.
  5. ↑ "Nigeria National Team: Argentine Coach is a new NFF candidate –". 7 September 2010.
  6. ↑ "Interview with Rodolfo Zapata –". 15 December 2010.
  7. ↑ "Van a dar ventajas". www.ole.com.ar. 28 May 2010.
  8. ↑ "Sunshine Stars FC (Nigeria)". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  9. ↑ "Nigeria National Team: Argentina Coach is a new candidate". www.modernghana.com. 5 September 2010.
  10. ↑ "Zapata takes over from Rosslee at Mpumalanga Black Aces". KickOff. 7 December 2011.
  11. ↑ "Rolo Zapata resigns as Black Aces coach - News Ghana". 4 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Rodolfo Zapata: "I Expected More From USA, African Teams"". Complete Sports. Lagos, Nigeria. 16 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Tlhobogang, Othusitse. "Will Zapata save GU? - The Patriot on Sunday". www.thepatriot.co.bw.
  14. ↑ "Botswana Soccer: Why Argentina-USA Coach Rodolfo Zapata Prefer Youthful Players? - Modern Ghana". www.modernghana.com.
  15. ↑ "AFC Leopards preps with new coach Rodolfo Zapata". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  16. ↑ "Leopards turn to Argentinian magic, appoint Zapata as new head coach". Citizentv.co.ke.
  17. ↑ "Township Rollers FC". www.facebook.com.
  18. ↑ Tagliaferri, Guillermo (8 May 2019). "Rodolfo Zapata, el DT argentino campeón en Botswana".
  19. ↑ "The Monitor: We Have To Win Every Match". www.mmegi.bw.
  20. ↑ "Hay muchos mediocampistas ofensivos. Por eso el sistema que uso es el 4-1-4-1 con cuatro números 10 con llegada y talentosos". www.tiempoar.com.ar.
  21. ↑ "Township Rollers vs Mochudi Centre Chiefs Formation: 4-1-4-1". www.facebook.com.
  22. ↑ "Umunya-Argentine Zapata yagizwe umutoza wa Mukura VS". www.kigalitoday.com.
  23. ↑ "The tasks that await Mukura head coach Rodolfo Zapata". www.newtimes.co.rw.
  24. ↑ "Rodolfo Zapata is Fiji Football U20 coach". www.fbcnews.com.fj.
  25. ↑ "Fiji Football U-20 signed with Argentinian coach Rodolfo Zapata". oceaniafootballcenter.org.
  26. ↑ "Usai Dicukur Timnas U-20 Indonesia, Pelatih Fiji Tetap Yakin Anak Asuhnya Bakal Bangkit di Piala Dunia U-20 2023". www.bolasport.com.
  27. ↑ "Rodolfo Zapata Has Faith In Fiji Football". www.fijisun.com.fj.
  28. ↑ "MBU shocker". www.jamaica-gleaner.com.
  29. ↑ "Montego Bay United FC Welcomes New Coach, Rodolfo Zapata, for the 2024-25 Season". www.montegobayunitedfc.com.
  30. ↑ "Montego Bay United seek fast start with new Argentine coach". www.jamaica-gleaner.com.
  31. ↑ "MoBay United's Zapata happy with playoff-like performance". www.jamaica-star.com.
  32. ↑ "Zapata believes in building homegrown core for Reggae Boyz". www.jamaica-gleaner.com.
  33. ↑ "Zapata: Jamaicans 'must awaken hunger for success' - Argentinian says 50 per cent Reggae Boyz should include players from JPL". www.jamaica-star.com.