Johnny McKinstry is on the final leg of a remarkable journey. It began when he left behind a glamorous Manhattan lifestyle for the wonder and wastelands of Sierra Leone five years ago. It will end when he walks through the front door of the family home in Lisburn, Belfast for Christmas, having lived through an incredible time in modern history...
Coach McKinstry speaks about his career to date, and how in just 18 months he moved Sierra Leone into the top 50 of the world, before the outbreak of Ebola brought things to a halt.
Manager of the Sierra Leone national team at the age of just 27, Johnny McKinstry is one of football's brightest young coaching talents. 'These Football Times' talk to the Northern Irishman about his journey....
McKinstry could have jumped ship in July ... but he says he felt a duty of care to the academy players and local staff...
Mark Chapman (BBC 5 Live) interviews Johnny McKinstry, and then asks Rene Meulensteen for his views on McKinstry's 'fascinating', 'intriguing' and 'remarkable' career to date.
Q Radio speak with Coach McKinstry on his coaching work and the impact of Ebola...
My ambition has always been to coach at the highest level – the Premier League, the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A. I want to achieve something in those leagues. Not just to work in them,....
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Coach McKinstry is a UEFA Pro Licensed Football Coach, with a number of successes across his 20+ year career to date. He is currently Head Coach of Gor Mahia FC in Kenya
As Head Coach of the Uganda National Team, the 'Uganda Cranes' (2019 - 2021) he led Uganda to win CECAFA 2019 and over his tenure delivered a WIN from 2 in every 3 games, going undefeated in over 8 in every 10 games played. This represented the highest 'win' and 'undefeated' rate achieved by a Uganda National Team Coach in over 15 years.
He was International Manager and Head Coach of the Rwanda National Football Team (2015-16). Within just 17 months he led Rwanda to a number of highs - including their first ever appearance in the knockout stages of a major international tournament (Quarter-finals of CHAN, Jan 2016) and finished runner-up in CECAFA (Dec 2105), being named 'Coach of the Tournament' for his efforts.
Across 2013-14, he was Head Coach of the Sierra Leone National Men's Football team. Within just over a year, he had led Sierra Leone to their highest ever FIFA World and African rankings - 7th in Africa and 50th in the World (August 2014).
He has also been Head Coach of Saif Sporting Club, Bangladesh Premier League (2018-19); and FK Kauno Zalgiris, Lithuanian A-Lyga (2017-18). He is a European (UEFA), American (NSCAA) and university qualified football coach.
Coach McKinstry is a member of 'Common Goal'. Together members seek to support high-impact organisations that harness the power of football to advance the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
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