Rodolfo Zapata

Rodolfo Zapata
Personal information
Full name Rodolfo Zapata
Date of birth (1966-05-01) May 1, 1966
Place of birth Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina
Club information
Current team
 Kenya AFC Leopards (Head coach)
Teams managed
Years Team
2000 Canada Alberta Soccer Association
2001–2009 United States Olympic Development Program
2010 Nigeria Sunshine Stars FC
2011–2012 South Africa MP Black Aces FC
2012–2015 United States USA Youth Soccer Association
2016–2017 Botswana Gaborone United
2018– Kenya AFC Leopards

Rodolfo Zapata (born 1 May 1966) is an Argentine Football Association coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of AFC Leopards.

Career

Rodolfo Zapata started out as a player in the Argentinian 2nd division. He played as goalkeeper in Huracan, Sportivo Italiano, Racing de Olavarría, Club Atlético San Miguel and Cipolletti de Rio Negro. Due to consecutive knee injures, Zapata retired from playing and he embarked on a managerial career.

On January 1990, he founded Rolo Zapata Soccer Academy[1] in Bella Vista, Buenos Aires. It is a private training complex for youth, high school and collegiate players. Currently is one of the elites soccer program in Argentina and United States.

In June 2000, Zapata coached Alberta Soccer Association in Canada. Shortly after, he was Teacher/Head Coach of United Nations International School in New York City.[2]

Also in New York and New Jersey, he was Head Coach of USA Olympic Development (2001-2009). This program is a national process for identifying and developing the best youth football players, which represent the United States in international competitions, such as the World Cup and the Olympics.[3]

On January 2010, he was based in Akure City, where he was Head Coach of Nigeria Premier League side Sunshine Stars FC.[4][5]

In 2011-2012 season, Rodolfo was appointed to be Head Coach of MP Black Aces FC in South Africa.[6][7]

On September 2012, he returned to the United States as Head Coach of United States Youth Soccer Association and New Jersey Youth Soccer Association. His role was to concentrate on the identification and recruitment of the best young players. Many of them have gone on to represent the USA Youth National Teams in various age categories.[8]

In January 2016, Zapata leaves USA to join Gaborone United in the Botswana Premier League.[9][10][11]

In May 2018, after two years in Botswana Rodolfo Zapata moved to Kenya. He was appointed to coach another Africa giants: AFC Leopards in the Kenyan Premier League.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Rolo Zapata Soccer Academy
  2. ↑ El DT argentino de la ONU
  3. ↑ I had to adapt my training programs that I used in Argentina in order to fit in to how soccer is played in the US
  4. ↑ Sunshine Stars FC has a reputation of being coached by the Argentine Rodolfo Zapata
  5. ↑ Rolo Zapata Reveals The Secrets of Sunshine Stars
  6. ↑ Zapata takes over from Rosslee in South Africa
  7. ↑ Rolo Zapata resigns as MP Black Aces coach
  8. ↑ World Cup 2014: I expected more from USA and African teams
  9. ↑ Will Zapata save Gaborone United?
  10. ↑ Gaborone is now United
  11. ↑ Zapata reveals Gaborone United plan to win BTC Premiership
  12. ↑ AFC Leopards preps with new coach Rodolfo Zapata
  13. ↑ Leopards turn to Argentinian magic, appoint Rodolfo Zapata as new head coach
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