- Gor Mahia dismissed their entire technical staff following a trophyless 2024/25 season on July 2, 2025.
- The club has since launched a search for new coaching personnel and advertised the open roles.
- With the head coach position vacant and applications open, recently re-elected chairman Rachier explained the club’s ongoing hesitation to hire a local coach, citing both internal challenges and fan pressure favoring foreign expertise.
Gor Mahia Chairman Ambrose Rachier has elaborated on why the club has not entrusted a local coach with the managerial role for over a decade since their last appointment.
The record Kenya Premier League champions recently disbanded their entire technical bench following a disappointing 24/25 season.
The club has since begun its search for a new coaching team, having already advertised the vacant positions.
Among those relieved of their duties were the head coach, assistant coaches, goalkeeping coach, team manager, kit manager, chief executive officer, and several members of the club’s security personnel.
While several of these positions are normally being held by local professionals, Gor has consistently refrained from appointing a Kenyan as head coach since Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno’s tenure in 2010.
ALSO READ: Gor Mahia fire entire technical bench after disastrous trophyless 24/25 season
Since then, the club has engaged approximately 14 foreign tacticians, with the latest being Croatian Sinisa Mihic, who was dismissed in May 2025.
In the interim, Zico has occasionally stepped in as caretaker manager during transitions, including after the departure of Brazilian Leonard Martin Neiva in late 2024.
Although the club had hinted at awarding Zico the full-time role contingent on positive results, they eventually settled on Mihic in February 2025.
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Why Gor Mahia has yet to hire a local coach?
With the coaching position once again up for grabs, and applications open, Rachier who was recently re-elected as chairman, has explained the club’s persistent reluctance to appoint a local coach.
He cited both internal and external pressures as key factors, particularly from fans who often advocate for foreign expertise.
Since I became chairman, I have never received a single application from a local coach. This is largely due to the immense pressure associated with managing Gor Mahia, especially from fans who have traditionally favored foreign coaches,” Rachier told Radio Citizen.
He further elaborated on the challenges in the hiring process, noting that many applicants lack essential qualifications such as a UEFA Pro or CAF B license.
While others have no prior experience coaching in Africa, a critical requirement given Gor Mahia’s continental aspiration
Most of the time, the applicants don’t have UEFA Pro or CAF licenses, which automatically disqualifies them. Others lack experience with African clubs, and even when they meet the requirements, some of their financial demands are simply unaffordable,” he explained.
ALSO READ: Gor Mahia’s head coach requirements unveiled as club advertises key technical roles
As the club explores the possibility of appointing a local tactician, fans are anxiously waiting to see who will be tasked with restoring the club’s glory.
Gor Mahia narrowly missed out on a domestic double last season, losing the FKF Premier League title to Kenya Police FC and falling short in the FKF Cup final against Nairobi United.
Gor Mahia Head Coaches Since 2008
- James Sianga – 2008
- Gideon Ochieng – 2009
- Zedekiah Otieno – 2010
- Zdravko Logarusic – 2012
- Bobby Williamson – 2013
- Frank Nuttall – 2014
- Jose Marcelo Ferreira – 2016
- Dylan Kerr – 2017
- Hassan Oktay – 2018
- Steve Polack – 2019
- Robert Oliveira – 2020
- Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto – 2021
- Mark Harrison – 2021
- Andreas Spier – 2022
- Jonathan McKinstry – 2022–2024
- Leonard Martin Neiva – 2024
- Sinisa Mihic – 2024