Rumba Munthali Explained

Rumba Munthali
Fullname:Rumbani Andrew Munthali
Birth Date:2 December 1978
Birth Place:Lusaka, Zambia
Currentclub:Nashville SC (interim head coach)
Position:Defender, midfielder
Youthyears1:1997–2000
Youthclubs1:University of Alabama at Birmingham
Years1:2001–2002
Clubs1:Richmond Kickers
Caps1:29
Goals1:0
Years2:2002
Clubs2:Carolina Dynamo (loan)
Caps2:9
Goals2:0
Years3:2003
Clubs3:Oakville Winstars
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Years4:2004–2005
Clubs4:Toronto Lynx
Caps4:47
Goals4:0
Years5:2006–2009
Clubs5:Nanchang Bayi
Caps5:82
Goals5:10
Years6:2010
Clubs6:Shenyang Dongjin
Caps6:16
Goals6:0
Manageryears1:2016–2023
Managerclubs1:Sporting Kansas City (youth)
Manageryears2:2023–
Managerclubs2:Nashville SC (youth)
Manageryears3:2024–
Managerclubs3:Nashville SC (interim)

Rumbani Andrew Munthali (born 2 December 1978) is a Canadian soccer coach and former professional player who played as a defender and midfielder. He is the interim head coach for Major League Soccer side Nashville SC.

Career

Early career

Born in Lusaka, Zambia, Munthali was raised in Canada and played college soccer at the University of Alabama-Birmingham where he was a 2000 Third Team All American.[1]

Professional career

In 2001, the Montreal Impact drafted, but did not sign Munthali. The Richmond Kickers then signed him after suffering several injuries to their back line.[2] In 2002, the Kickers loaned Munthali to the Carolina Dynamo.[3] [4] They released him in February 2003.[5] He then played for the Oakville Winstars. In 2004, he was signed by the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League on April 7, 2004.[6] He made his debut for the club on April 17, 2004 in a match against Puerto Rico Islanders, coming on as a substitute for John Barry Nusum.[7] At the conclusion of the season the organization awarded him the Public Relations Award.[8] He re-signed with Toronto for the 2005 season on March 31, 2005.[9] In 2006, he moved to China to sign with Nanchang Bayi. On March 2, 2010, he transferred to China League One side Shenyang Dongjin.[10]

After retirement

After retiring, Munthali moved back to Toronto.[11] In 2016, he was hired as a youth coach at the academy of Sporting Kansas City.[12] As of August 2021, Munthali was still holding the same position.[13]

In 2023, Munthali left Kansas City and joined fellow MLS side Nashville SC as a Player Development coach. In May 2024, Munthali was named interim head coach of Nashville after the departure of Gary Smith.[14]

References

General
Specific

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=2000 2000 All Americans
  2. MAKING SUDDEN IMPACT - INJURIES FORCE MUNTHALI INTO A BIGGER ROLE Richmond Times-Dispatch - Friday, August 3, 2001
  3. http://www.carolinadynamo.com/06_Alltime_player_stats.doc Carolina Dynamo All Time Roster
  4. KICKERS NOTES Richmond Times-Dispatch - Sunday, June 9, 2002
  5. Web site: Richmond Kickers Soccer - News. https://web.archive.org/web/20030317150756/http://www.richmondkickers.com:80/news/021903ReSignTwoPlayers.htm. dead. 2003-03-17. 2003-03-17. 2018-08-04.
  6. Web site: April 7th, 2004 Lynx press conference by Rocket Robin. www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 2015-05-04. Glover. Robin.
  7. Web site: April 17, 2004 A-League Puerto Rico vs Toronto Lynx (from a-league com). www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 2015-05-04. Carrillo. Jorge.
  8. Web site: August 26, 2004 A-League Toronto Lynx vs Edmonton FC (from Lynx media release). www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 2015-05-04. Nutt. Dave.
  9. Web site: March 31, 2005 Toronto Lynx sign Carl Fletcher and re-sign Rumba Muntali (from Lynx press release). www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. 2015-05-04. Nutt. Dave.
  10. http://www.espnstar.com.cn/pub/csl/2010/0303/152676.htm 沈阳东进签下四外援 砸百万美金志在冲超
  11. https://www.sportingkc.com/news/academy-qa-get-know-sporting-kc-u-1719-head-coach-rumba-munthali Academy Q&A: Get to know Sporting KC U-17/19 head coach Rumba Munthali
  12. https://www.sportingkcacademy.com/technical-staff TECHNICAL STAFF
  13. https://www.sportingkc.com/news/benny-feilhaber-appointed-as-sporting-kc-academy-u-17-head-coach Benny Feilhaber appointed as Sporting KC Academy U-17 head coach
  14. Web site: Nashville SC Announces Departure of Head Coach Gary Smith. May 16, 2024. Nashville SC.