Francis Kimanzi

Francis Kimanzi

Personal information
Date of birth	(1976-05-29) 29 May 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth	Kitui, Kenya
Team information
Current team	Wazito (manager)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–2002	Mathare United
Managerial career
2002–2010	Mathare United
2008–2009	Kenya
2011	Sofapaka
2011–2012	Kenya
2013–2015	Tusker
2015–2019	Mathare United
2019–2020	Kenya
2020–	Wazito
2024–2025	Kenya (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Francis Kimanzi (born 29 May 1976) ^[1] is a Kenyan football coach who manages Wazito.

Playing career

Kimanzi played club football for Mathare United between 1994 and 2002, before becoming manager. ^[1]

Coaching career

Kimanzi was appointed full-time manager of the Kenyan national side on 11 December 2008, ^[2] having held the post as a caretaker since May 2008. ^[3] He was sacked from the post of national team coach after the 2008 CECAFA Cup in January 2009 due to disputes between him and Kenyan football administrators. ^[4] After a one-year spell coaching club side Sofapaka, he was reappointed as head coach of the Kenyan national team in November 2011. ^[5] In June 2012 he was sacked as manager of Kenya alongside his entire coaching staff after Kenya failed to qualify for the 2013 African Nations Cup. ^[6]

After coaching Tusker, he returned to Mathare United as manager in 2015.^{[ citation needed ]} In August 2019 he was linked with a return to the Kenya national team. ^[7] He returned to the Kenyan national team as manager in August 2019. ^{[8] [9]} Kimanzi has publicly spoken out against foreign coaches in Africa. ^[10] In October 2020, he was dismissed from coaching Kenya. ^[11] In November 2020 he became manager of Wazito. ^[12]

He served as interim manager of Kenya from late 2024 until March 2025. ^[13]

References

1. "Francis Kimanzi". Kenya Soccer Institute. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
2. "Kimanzi returns as Kenya coach". BBC. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
3. "Confusion over Kenya coach". BBC. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
4. "Kimanzi sacked as Kenya coach". BBC. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
5. "Kimanzi returns as Kenya coach". FIFA. 1 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
6. "Kimanzi sacked as Kenya coach after Nations Cup exit". BBC Sport. 19 June 2012.
7. Kamunde, Muraya (14 August 2019). "Francis Kimanzi to replace Migne as Harambee Stars coach".
8. "Harambee Stars: Francis Kimanzi confirmed as the new coach | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
9. "Francis Kimanzi confirmed as Kenya's new head coach". BBC Sport. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
10. "Kimanzi slams foreign coaches". BBC. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
11. "OFFICIAL: Kenya sack head coach Francis Kimanzi". kingfut.com. 20 October 2020.
12. "🚨Francis Kimanzi unveiled as new Wazito FC head coach | Futaa.com". futaa.com.
13. "Benni McCarthy: New Kenya boss targets World Cup qualification". BBC Sport. 3 March 2025.