:Rumba Munthali

{{Short description|Zambian-born Canadian soccer player (born 1978)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rumba Munthali

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Rumbani Andrew Munthali

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|12|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Lusaka, Zambia

| height =

| currentclub = Nashville SC (youth coach)

| clubnumber =

| 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 youth 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.[http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=2000 2000 All Americans]

=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.MAKING SUDDEN IMPACT - INJURIES FORCE MUNTHALI INTO A BIGGER ROLE Richmond Times-Dispatch - Friday, August 3, 2001 In 2002, the Kickers loaned Munthali to the Carolina Dynamo.[http://www.carolinadynamo.com/06_Alltime_player_stats.doc Carolina Dynamo All Time Roster]KICKERS NOTES Richmond Times-Dispatch - Sunday, June 9, 2002 They released him in February 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://www.richmondkickers.com:80/news/021903ReSignTwoPlayers.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030317150756/http://www.richmondkickers.com:80/news/021903ReSignTwoPlayers.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-03-17|title=Richmond Kickers Soccer - News|date=2003-03-17|access-date=2018-08-04}} 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.{{Cite web|title = April 7th, 2004 Lynx press conference by Rocket Robin|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports04/04lynx13.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|accessdate = 2015-05-04|last = Glover|first = Robin}} 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.{{Cite web|title = April 17, 2004 A-League Puerto Rico vs Toronto Lynx (from a-league com)|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports04/04lynx17.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|accessdate = 2015-05-04|last = Carrillo|first = Jorge}} At the conclusion of the season the organization awarded him the Public Relations Award.{{Cite web|title = August 26, 2004 A-League Toronto Lynx vs Edmonton FC (from Lynx media release)|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports04/04lynx1x.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|accessdate = 2015-05-04|last = Nutt|first = Dave}} He re-signed with Toronto for the 2005 season on March 31, 2005.{{Cite web|title = March 31, 2005 Toronto Lynx sign Carl Fletcher and re-sign Rumba Muntali (from Lynx press release)|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports05/05lynx13.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|accessdate = 2015-05-04|last = Nutt|first = Dave}} In 2006, he moved to China to sign with Nanchang Bayi.{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Ben |date=17 May 2024 |title=Rumba Munthali: who is Nashville SC's interim manager? |url=https://broadwaysportsmedia.com/rumba-munthali-nashville-sc-interim-manager/ |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Broadway Sports Media |language=en-US}} On March 2, 2010, he transferred to China League One side Shenyang Dongjin.[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]

=After retirement=

After retiring, Munthali moved back to Toronto.[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], sportingkc.com, 6 August 2019 In 2016, he was hired as a youth coach at the academy of Sporting Kansas City.[https://www.sportingkcacademy.com/technical-staff TECHNICAL STAFF], sportingkcacademy.com As of August 2021, Munthali was still holding the same position.[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], sportingkc.com, 23 August 2021

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-sc-announces-departure-of-head-coach-gary-smith|date=May 16, 2024|title=Nashville SC Announces Departure of Head Coach Gary Smith|work=Nashville SC}}