Rodolfo Zapata

Rodolfo Zapata (born 1 May 1966) is an Argentine Football Association coach and former player.

Rodolfo Zapata
Personal information
Full name Rodolfo Zapata
Date of birth (1966-05-01) May 1, 1966
Place of birth Bella Vista, Argentina
Teams managed
Years Team
2000 Alberta Soccer Association
2001–2009 US Olympic Development Program
2010 Sunshine Stars FC
2011–2012 MP Black Aces FC
2012–2015 USA Youth Soccer Association
2016–2017 Gaborone United
2018 AFC Leopards
2018–2019 Township Rollers FC

Career

Rodolfo Zapata started out as a player in the Argentinian 2nd division. He played as goalkeeper in Huracán, 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 started his coaching career with Alberta Soccer Association in Canada.

Shortly after, he was Head Coach of United Nations International School in New York City.[1]

Also in New York and New Jersey, he was Head Coach of USA Olympic Development Program (2001-2009). This 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.[2][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]

In May 2018, AFC Leopards announced Rodolfo Zapata as their new head coach for the remainder of the Kenyan Premier League season.[10][11]

He departed this position in October 2018, and within days was appointed as the new head coach of Township Rollers FC in Botswana.[12]

Rodolfo Zapata won the 2018/2019 edition of the Botswana Premier League with his club. As a result Township Rollers qualified for the 2019/2020 Africa Champions League.[13][14]

As Head Coach of Township Rollers FC, Zapata has overseen a possession-based and attacking style of play. He has most consistently favored a 4-1-4-1 formation, but there have also been occasions when both a 4-3-2-1 and 4-3-3 have been used. Notably, represent subtle positional changes from Rollers' 4-1-4-1 tactic.[15][16]

References

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