Norman Mapeza
Zimbabwean footballer and coach (born 1972)
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Norman Takanyariwa Mapeza (born 12 April 1972) is a Zimbabwean football manager and former player. During his career, he played as a defender and midfielder.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Norman Takanyariwa Mapeza | ||
| Date of birth | 12 April 1972 | ||
| Place of birth |
Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Platinum (Manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Red Arrows | |||
| Chitungwiza juniors | |||
| Darryn Textiles | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1993 | Darryn Textiles | 68 | (1) |
| 1993–1994 | Sokół Pniewy | 26 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | Galatasaray | 25 | (2) |
| 1995–1996 | Ankaragücü | 31 | (2) |
| 1996–1997 | Altay | 29 | (1) |
| 1997–1998 | Dardanelspor | 30 | (2) |
| 1998–1999 | Denizlispor | 31 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Altay | 26 | (1) |
| 2000–2001 | SV Ried | 10 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Malatyaspor | 17 | (0) |
| 2003–2005 | CAPS United | 28 | (1) |
| 2005–2006 | Ajax Cape Town | 11 | (1) |
| Total | 332 | (11) | |
| International career | |||
| 1993–2001 | Zimbabwe | 92 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2007–2008 | Monomotapa United | ||
| 2007 | Zimbabwe (caretaker) | ||
| 2009–2010 | Zimbabwe (caretaker) | ||
| 2011–2012 | Zimbabwe | ||
| 2014–2019 | Platinum | ||
| 2017 | Zimbabwe (caretaker) | ||
| 2019–2020 | Chippa United | ||
| 2020–2021 | Platinum | ||
| 2021–2022 | Zimbabwe (caretaker) | ||
| 2021– | Platinum | ||
| 2024 | Zimbabwe (caretaker) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Mapeza began his playing career with Darryn Textiles F.C. in Harare. He moved to Europe to play with Sokół Pniewy in the Polish Ekstraklasa for the 1993–94 season.[1] Mapeza next played for several clubs in the Turkish Super Lig, including Galatasaray S.K., Ankaragücü, Altay S.K. and Malatyaspor.[2]
He was only the second Zimbabwean player to play in the UEFA Champions League,[3] appearing in the competition with Galatasaray in the 1990s.
Coaching career
In the 2003–04 season, Mapeza functioned as a playing assistant coach at CAPS United and later in a similar role for Ajax Cape Town in the 2005–06 season.[4] He ended his playing career in the summer 2006.[5]
In July 2007, Mapeza was appointed manager of Monomotapa United back in Zimbabwe.[6][7] He resigned from his position later in 2008 .[8] In August and September 2007, Mapeza also took charge of Zimbabwe's national football team on interim basis.[9][10][11]
In the beginning of May 2009, Mapeza was appointed caretaker manager of Zimbabwe once again.[12] He resigned in November 2010.[13]
In March 2011, Mapeza was again appointed Zimbabwe manager for a third spell in four years.[14] In February 2012, he was suspended from his job as Zimbabwe's national football team manager for alleged match-fixing.[15]
On 11 August 2014, Mapeza was appointed manager of F.C. Platinum.[16] And in March 2017, Mapeza was also appointed caretaker manager of Zimbabwe for the fourth time until November 2017.[17] Mapeza left his position at Platinum on 12 September 2019[18] and was appointed the manager of the South African PSL team Chippa United on 1 October 2019.[19] He left Chippa in March 2020.[20]
In November 2020, Mapeza returned to F.C. Platinum as the clubs new manager.[21]
On 15 September 2021, Mapeza was appointed caretaker manager of the Zimbabwe's national football team.[22] He became the caretaker manager of Zimbabwe again during March 2024 for the Four Nations Football Tournament where Zimbabwe finished as runners-up.[23]