Record Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) champions Gor Mahia have appointed Brazilian native Leonardo Martins Neiva as their new head coach.
Neiva will be supported by an experienced technical team, including former Sofapaka head coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, who returns to Gor Mahia alongside Michael Nam.
Neiva has signed a two-year contract to replace Johnathan McKinstry, who has recently taken the role of Gambia national team head coach.
Neiva arrives with an impressive and diverse coaching resume, having managed both clubs and national teams across multiple continents.
At 46, he brings a wealth of experience, having kick-started his coaching career as an assistant coach at America CF in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2007.
His coaching journey has seen him navigate roles in North America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Neiva’s first move to Africa came in 2008 when he joined South Africa’s Platinum Stars as an academy coach, a position he held until 2009.
Following a brief return to Brazil with Bonsucesso-RJ, he took charge of the youth side of Yadanarborn FC, where he played a crucial role in developing young talents who would later represent Brazil at the U-20 level.
In 2011, Neiva became the head coach of Rakhine United in the Myanmar National League, where at 34, he was the youngest coach in the league.
His success continued in 2013 when he returned to Brazil to coach Associação Atlética Francana before moving to Tanzania’s Young Africans SC in 2014.
In Tanzania, he achieved significant success, winning both the Tanzanian Super Cup and the 2014/15 Premier League title.
Neiva’s coaching prowess soon attracted the attention of Jamaican side Montego Bay United, where he helped secure the national championship in 2016.
His international experience expanded further with short stints at Yadanarborn and the now-defunct Thai Honda FC between 2016 and 2017.
In 2019, Neiva returned to Brazil with Clube Atlético Itapemirim for a season before taking on the role of head coach for the Saint Kitts and Nevis senior men’s national soccer team.
His most recent position in Africa was with Uganda Premier League side Vipers SC where he was relieved of his duties in December after just six months in charge.