Pirates coach Jose Riveiro to exit at end of season

Orlando Pirates have announced coach Jose Riveiro will step down at the end of the season. 

The club said it was Riveiro’s decision not to renew his contract due to expire at the end of the 2024-25 Premier Soccer League campaign, where they are involved in a two-horse race for the championship with Mamelodi Sundowns. 

There was speculation about the coach’s future and Pirates said they made the announcement early to ensure there are no disruptions until the end of the season. 

Pirates added that, in accordance with the wishes of the coach, they will not make pronouncements and will make tributes at an appropriate occasion.

“While we would have liked Jose to extend his stay with us, we fully respect his decision. We are grateful for everything he has done for the club,” Pirates chair Irvin Khoza said. 

“The achievements of the intervening years speak for themselves. The joy that Jose and his support staff have brought to this club will never be forgotten.

“The club’s immediate priority will be twofold. First, in keeping with his wishes, we will find the appropriate time to fully express our appreciation of Jose and his contribution to the club. 

“Second, for the football department to begin the extensive exercise of finding a suitable replacement before the 2025-26 season.”

Riveiro has won five trophies at Pirates, turning them into cup kings in his two-and-two-thirds seasons in charge since arriving in SA to join Bucs in July 2022.

The 47-year-old Spaniard steered Bucs to five out of seven domestic cup trophies, lifting the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Nedbank Cups and three successive MTN8 titles.

Last season and this campaign’s Carling Knockout were the only cup competitions Pirates did not win in Riveiro’s tenure.

In the Premiership, Pirates were runners-up to seven-time successive champions Sundowns in the past two seasons, though by sizeable 16 and 23-point margins.

This season it is a far closer race, with Bucs on 43 points from 19 games, with four matches in hand on leaders Sundowns (58 from 23).

What makes Riveiro more marketable, though, is he has steered Pirates to the 2024-25 Caf Champions League quarterfinals, unbeaten in the competition and having led Group C. They stand an excellent chance of reaching the semifinals as Bucs have a 1-0 lead from Tuesday’s away leg against MC Alger to take into the home leg at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday.