Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) has announced the appointment of Stephen Constantine as the new Amavubi head coach on a contract running until March 2028. The 63-year-old English coach, who has signed a two-year renewable deal, returns for a second spell after previously managing Rwanda between May 2014 and January 2015. According to FERWAFA, Constantine will officially assume his duties on Monday, March 16, working alongside the existing technical staff to prepare the national team for the FIFA Series 2026, which will be held in Kigali in March. In addition to leading the senior national team, he will also oversee the Rwanda U-23 team during his tenure. Before his appointment, Constantine was in charge of the Pakistan national team, a role he held from 2023. During his first spell with Rwanda, Constantine guided the team to its highest-ever FIFA world ranking of 64th. Under his leadership, Rwanda came close to qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but the team was later disqualified after fielding an ineligible player. ALSO READ: Fifa ranking: Rwanda can do even better - Constantine He resigned in January 2015 to take up a second stint as India national team coach. Who is Stephen Constantine? Born in London, England, Constantine is a vastly experienced football manager with more than 30 years of international coaching experience, having worked extensively across Asia and Africa. He is widely regarded as a transformational coach, known for improving FIFA rankings and introducing professional structures to teams with limited resources. Constantine first coached India between 2002 and 2005, during which he won the LG Cup in 2002 and guided the team to a silver medal at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games. He later managed Malawi (2007–2008) before taking charge of Sudan (2009–2010). In May 2014, he was appointed Rwanda head coach on a two-year deal but stepped down eight months later to return to India. During his second stint with India (2015–2019), Constantine led the team to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals with the youngest squad in the country’s history. He also oversaw a 13-match unbeaten run, winning the 2016 SAFF Championship and the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, while improving India’s FIFA ranking from 173 to 97. Coaching style Constantine is known for his pragmatic coaching philosophy, emphasising organisation, discipline, and defensive solidity. His teams typically operate in 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formations. He is also known for respecting local football cultures while introducing professional standards, earning him the reputation of being a “manager for tough rebuilding jobs.”
