It’s not often that a new head coach steps into a football club and immediately makes the kind of impact that Jose Riveiro has at Orlando Pirates.
This past weekend, Riveiro led his team to MTN8 glory with a commanding 3-1 victory over Stellenbosch FC. The win secured the Buccaneers their third consecutive MTN8 title – a record-breaking feat never before achieved in the Premier Soccer League era.
Riveiro, the once little-known Spaniard faced scepticism from parts of the football community when he joined the club two years ago. Critics questioned his so-called lack of experience, with some even resorting to derogatory labels, dismissing him as a “plumber.” But the then 46-year-old (now 49) took the higher road and focused on his work.
“I have been hired by the Club. We are going to work to make history together and build a team we are all proud of. I don’t spend time thinking about what people say about me. My work must do the talking for me,” he declared at the time.
And talk it has. In just 830 days at the helm, Riveiro’s accomplishments have reverberated throughout South African football. Under his guidance, the Mighty Buccaneers have roared back into a competitive force.
Three MTN8 titles, two Nedbank Cup trophies, and back-to-back second place finishes in the Betway Premiership are a testament to his leadership.
