# Pa-Modou Kah

Pa Modou Kah (born 30 July 1980) is a Norwegian football coach and former player who is the head coach for Phoenix Rising FC in the USL Championship.

## Playing career
### Vålerenga

Born in Banjul, The Gambia, Kah and his family emigrated to Norway in 1988, when he was eight years old. He began his football career with Vålerenga in 1998. At Vålerenga, he appeared in 94 league matches and scored 9 goals. In the 2001 season, his side won promotion and won the Norwegian Cup the year after.

### AIK

In the mid-2003, Kah moved to Swedish club AIK as a part of the club's efforts for winning the championship. Kah was appreciated for his fighting spirit and ability to win the ball. Although his natural position was as a central midfielder, he had to play in various positions; he played several games at right-back. After the club was relegated the following season, Kah transferred to Dutch club Roda JC, making nearly 200 league appearances. In the Netherlands Kah mainly played as central defender.

### Al-Khor

In 2011, after seven years in the Netherlands, Kah moved to Qatari club Al Khor.

### Portland Timbers

After a brief period in Saudi Arabia with Al-Wehda, Kah moved to the United States on 3 May 2013 when he signed with Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers. On 8 December 2014, the Portland Timbers declined contract options on Kah.

### Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Kah was unsigned in the waivers draft and later claimed by Vancouver Whitecaps FC on 21 January 2015.
In August 2016, he agreed to mutually terminate his contract with Vancouver Whitecaps' first team in favour of joining their USL team as a player-coach. On 21 February 2017, Kah announced his retirement and it was also confirmed, that he would continue working at the club as a Whitecaps FC staff coach.

## Coaching career

FC Cincinnati added Kah to its technical staff as a member of the scouting staff in August 2018. In January 2019, the club announced that Kah's role would be changing, and he would now serve as an assistant coach.
On 14 January 2020, Kah signed with Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC as the club's new head coach. During the 2020 CPL season, Kah guided Pacific to their first play-off appearance, when they reached the second group stage of the Island Games before being eliminated. During the 2021 season, Kah guided Pacific to the 2021 Canadian Championship semi-finals, defeating Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Cavalry FC before falling to Toronto FC. In the 2021 Canadian Premier League Final, Pacific defeated Forge FC 1–0 at Tim Hortons Field. For his efforts, Kah was named the 2021 CPL Coach of the Year.
On 21 January 2022, Kah was announced as the new head coach of North Texas SC.
In January 2023, he joined Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC as an assistant coach.
Kah was named head coach for USL Championship club Phoenix Rising FC on 18 November 2024.

## Personal life

In 2005, Kah was involved in a car accident in Peer, Belgium. He was accompanied by his girlfriend, his cousin, and a friend. His car was rear-ended while stopped at a routine road check, immediately killing his girlfriend but only inflicting minor injuries to Kah. In Roda JC's next match, referee Bjorn Kuipers held a minute of silence to in honour of Kah's girlfriend. During the game, Arouna Koné took his shirt off to reveal an undershirt which bore the inscription "For Kah". The referee showed Koné a yellow card, a decision the commentators criticised. Kuipers said afterwards that he had not seen the text on Koné's shirt.
Kah speaks seven languages, including English, Norwegian, and some Spanish.
Kah possesses a US green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.
Kah is the nephew of Djimon Hounsou.

## Managerial statistics

    As of matches played 30 September 2022
Managerial record by team and tenure :
| Team | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Ref |
| Team | From | To | G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Ref |
| Pacific FC | 14 January 2020 | 21 January 2022 | 43 | 21 | 8 | 14 | 72 | 53 | +19 | 048.84 | |
| North Texas SC | 21 January 2022 | 30 September 2022 | 25 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 48 | 33 | +15 | 052.00 | |
| Career totals | Career totals | Career totals | 68 | 34 | 13 | 21 | 120 | 86 | +34 | 050.00 | |
* ↑ MLS Next Pro teams played shootouts to earn an extra point after ties. Of the five ties in 2022, North Texas SC had two Shootout wins and three Shootout losses for a total record of 13-2-3-7

## Honours
### Manager

Pacific FC
* Canadian Premier League: 2021