ROBERT MATANO PROFILE
| AGE | 62 YEARS |
| GENDER | MALE |
| OCCUPATION | FOOTBALL COACH |
Robert Matano, commonly known as “The Lion,” is a Kenyan football manager and former defender with a 40-year football career.
Matano is a licensed trainer certified by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and has managed several football clubs in Kenya, with a short stint in Tanzania.
Matano’s Early Life and Playing Career
He was born in Mombasa in 1964 and was named after Robert Stanley Matano, a Kenyan politician who was his father’s friend.
Matano said that he became an orphan at only 6 years old when he lost his mother and father 4 years later.
He went on to state that he lived with different people growing up.
“I was orphaned early in life. I spent most of my childhood living in people’s houses all over the country. I would not have made it if I did not live by their rules,” Matano said in a past interview.
Matano started playing football as a teenager in local clubs, including Abeingo FC, Kenatco FC, Nakuru Youth Olympic, and Hakati Sportiff FC.
His playing career peak came when he joined AFC Leopards in 1981, becoming a key defender.
Matano was part of the AFC Leopards squad that won the East and Central Africa Club Championship (CECAFA Club Championship) in February 1984, defeating Gor Mahia in the final held in Nairobi.
He got an injury and retired in 1986 while playing at Pumwani Sportiff in Nairobi.
Robert Matano’s Early Coaching Career
Shortly after his retirement, Matano began his coaching career at Pumwani Sportiff, where he had also retired.
He went on to coach several other teams in Kenya early in his career, including Kenya Pipeline in 1986, Shamako Babes in 1991, Bayer East Africa in 1993 and Green Berets in 1997.
Matano’s early career achievements
He achieved promotion to the Super League with Kenya Pipeline.
He led Shamako Babes to promotion to the topflight.
He led Green Berets to promotion to the Super League.
Matano went on to coach other clubs, including Timsales, Re-Union, Kimbo FC, and Safari Park, early in his career before transitioning to the Kenya Premier League (KPL)
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Kenya Premier League Coaching Career
Robert Matano, who believes in scoring goals and winning trophies as a manager, went on to coach the Kenyan Premier League Teams.
“To score goals is the most important thing in a match”, Matano said in a post-match interview with KCB in 2025.
He has 4 Premier League titles as a coach, most by any coach in the history of the Kenya Premier League.
“I always work to win, and win is about trophies.” Said the KCB manager upon his unveiling.
Matano has coached several KPL teams.
| Club | Period |
| World Hope FC (Nairobi City Stars) | 2005–2007 |
| Sofapaka F.C. | 2008–2010 |
| AFC Leopards | 2010–2011, 2017–2018 |
| Tusker F.C. | 2012–2013, 2019–2024] |
| Ulinzi Stars F.C. | 2014–2016 |
| KCB F.C. | 2025–present |
Achievements in the Kenya Premier League
| Achievement | Detail |
| KPL Titles | Sofapaka (2009), Tusker (2012, 2020–21, 2021–22) |
| KPL Runner-up | 2022–23, 2023–24 (Tusker) |
| Kenyan Super Cup | Winner 2021–22 (Tusker) |
| FKF President’s Cup | Winner 2005 |
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Matano’s Recent Appointments
On January 9, 2025, Matano had a short stint in Tanzania after being appointed as head coach of Singida Fountain Gate F.C.
He was only there for 6 months when he left and came back to Kenya.
In June 2025, he was appointed as head coach of Kenya’s Kenya Commercial Bank Football Club (KCB F.C).
He is the current head coach of KCB, where he finished 7th in the Kenya Premier League in the concluded season.
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PHOTO | Robert Matano | FB
