Etienne Ndayiragije
| AGE | 47 |
| NATIONALITY | BURUNDIAN |
| GENDER | MALE |
| OCCUPATION | FOOTBALL COACH |
Etienne Ndayiragije is a Burundian football manager, born on December 3, 1978, in Bujumbura, Burundi.
On Sunday, June 22, Ndayiragije led Kenya Police FC to its first ever league title after a competitive season. The Burundian arrived in Kenya in November 2024.
At the time, the team had garnered eight points from their first seven manage and were sitting at the 17th position in the league of 18 teams.
But his experience and elite-level of coaching helped Kenya Police get a quick turnaround. In his first season, Ndayiragije guided the club to glory and helped the club win Kenya’s top-flight league with 65 points.
The Kenya Police coach hailed his players, stating that they “worked so hard to achieve this feat”. This feat now adds to the long list of coach Etienne Ndayiragije’s achievements in his career.
Coaching Resume
Vital’O FC (Burundi Premier League)
From 2015-2016, Etienne was the head coach of Vital’O FC in the Burundi Premier League.
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Vital’O FC managed to win the Burundi Premier League and the Burundi FA Cup that season with the outstanding performance catching the eyes of the Tanzania National Team.
Tanzania National Team
Etienne Ndayiragije also worked as the head coach of the Tanzania National Team (Taifa Stars) from August 2019 to February 2021.
He managed to lead the Taifa Stars to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), though they were eliminated in the group stage.
On February 12, 2021, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) parted company with the national football team head coach Etienne by mutual consent.
Burundi National Team
On 25 January 2023, Etienne was appointed by The Football Federation of Burundi (FFB) as the new coach for the Burundi national football team.
The team played 21 matches under the Burundian and won only 6 matches, losing 11 and drawing 4, leading to his dismissal in October 2024.
Kenya Police FC
On November 29, 2024, Kenya Police FC signed Etienne as their new head coach, with hopes that the Burundian would help them to seek stability and survive relegation, as they sat 17th in the FKF Premier League.
Taking over a team ranked 17th with only eight points after seven matches, Ndayiragije’s resilience and strategic approach was always going to be evaluated, but his rich history of overcoming odds suggested he was the right person for the task.
With a rich resume spanning club and international football, Ndayiragije brought a wealth of experience to the struggling side.
Under his leadership, Kenya Police FC won their first-ever Kenyan Premier League title in the 2024-2025 season. This marked a remarkable turnaround for the club.
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Ndayiragije is credited with implementing a competitive and structured playing style, transforming the team into a formidable force. His tactical acumen, backed by his UEFA Pro coaching license, has been pivotal in this success.
Etienne only lost four league matches since December, winning 17 and drawing five.
He has expressed confidence in making Kenya Police FC a strong contender in continental competitions, specifically targeting success in the CAF Champions League.
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