Argentine native Rodolfo Zapata has been appointed the new head coach for former Jamaica Premier League champions Montego Bay United.

The moves comes with the club undergoing a transformation with renewed investment in resources, players and management, under the leadership of a new ownership which took charge in the fall of 2023.

Zapata began his career as a professional football player in Argentina before getting a coaching degree and moving to North America where he worked for the USA Olympic Development Program coaching identifying young talent for the US national team.

“Coach Zapata brings extensive football and coaching experience to the team. He has worked across Africa, Latin America and the US with a keen ability to adapt training programmes to the culture of the country,” expressed MBU Chairman, Yoni Epstein, CD. “We are looking forward to

capitalizing on his commitment to continuity, consistency and ambition fueled by a winning mindset.”

The 58 year old replaces the Brazilian coach, Neider Dos Santos, who was let go at the end of the 2023-2024 season where the club missed the playoffs on goal difference despite going its last 10 matches unbeaten.

His resume includes coaching for some of the biggest clubs in South Africa, Botswana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda, as well as the Fiji U20 National Team. He is also the founder of the Rolo Zapata Academy for boys and girls in Argentina.