24 Facts About Johnathan McKinstry

Johnathan McKinstry was born on 16 July 1985 and is a Northern Irish football coach who is the head coach of the Gambia national football team.

Previously Johnathan McKinstry managed the Rwanda national team, the Sierra Leone national team, Kauno Zalgiris in the A Lyga, Saif SC of the Bangladesh Premier League and the Uganda national football team.

Whilst in charge of Sierra Leone, Johnathan McKinstry was the youngest international manager in the world at 27 years of age.

Johnathan McKinstry has coached in several countries; Northern Ireland, England, USA, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Lithuania, Bangladesh and Uganda.

In 2013, Johnathan McKinstry moved into senior professional football when he was appointed manager of the Sierra Leone national football team, whom he guided to their highest ever FIFA World Ranking position.

Johnathan McKinstry has more recently been manager of the Rwanda national football team guiding them to the Final of the 2015 CECAFA Cup and Quarter Finals of the 2016 African Nations Championship, Kauno Zalgiris of Lithuania's A Lyga, Saif SC of the Bangladesh Premier League and the Uganda national football team.

On 11 April 2013, Johnathan McKinstry was appointed as the manager of Sierra Leone following the resignation of Swedish coach Lars-Olof Mattsson, becoming the youngest active international head coach in world football.

Johnathan McKinstry spoke about his desire to be awarded the job on a permanent basis and was retained as head coach for the 2015 CAF Nations Cup qualifiers.

Johnathan McKinstry later spoke about his time in the country, including the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

Johnathan McKinstry stated he was looking forward to the challenge.

Johnathan McKinstry was named as 'Coach of the Tournament' by sponsors DSTV.

In January 2016, Johnathan McKinstry led Rwanda to the knock-out stages of a major competition for the first time in their history when he guided them to 1st place in Group A of the 2016 edition of the CAF African Nations Championship and qualification for the Quarter Finals.

Johnathan McKinstry cited the ongoing uncertainty regarding Kauno Zalgiris' league status as a key factor in the decision between himself and the club to go their separate ways.

On 7 November 2018, Johnathan McKinstry was named as the new head coach of Bangladesh Premier League side Saif SC, replacing Englishman Stewart Hall.

On 30 September 2019, Johnathan McKinstry signed a three-year contract as head coach of the Uganda national football team, replacing French national Sebastien Desabre, who took up a head coaching position with Pyramids FC of Egypt in July 2019.

Johnathan McKinstry was selected from a pool of 137 applicants, including Africa Cup of Nations winning coach Hugo Broos.

On 19 December 2019, Johnathan McKinstry guided Uganda to victory in the 2019 CECAFA Cup, winning all 6 games throughout the tournament.

On 19 April 2021, it was confirmed by Federation of Uganda Football Associations that Johnathan McKinstry had reached an agreement with FUFA to bring an end to his 18 months at the helm of the Uganda Cranes.

On 29 July 2022, Johnathan McKinstry was appointed Head Coach of Gor Mahia FC, Kenya's most successful club side.

Johnathan McKinstry inherited a team in turmoil at a time when it was serving a FIFA transfer ban, was operating with a lean squad and due to off-field issues was struggling to raise enough players to conduct effective training sessions at the time of his arrival.

Johnathan McKinstry followed up his successful debut season with a further improved performance the following year.

In recognition of these achievement, Johnathan McKinstry was name FKF Coach of the Year for 2024.

On 1 June 2024, Johnathan McKinstry was appointed Head Coach of The Gambia national football team on a 2-year contract.

In November 2018, it was confirmed that Johnathan McKinstry had joined Common Goal.