Jose Riveiro’s human touch at Orlando Pirates

As Jose Riveiro tenure at Orlando Pirates winds down in his final match in charge, he will leave as a coach of the cups but also a coach that remained professional and humble until the end.

Building players and not just a team

The kind of mentor that allowed South African players to be themselves. When the Bucs walked on any field, there was always a tailored plan but it would never stifle any individual from bringing out the very thing that made them unique.

Riveiro would always protect is players in interviews. He would not discuss them individually but instead always referred to the collective, the team. He clearly loved his players and had a unique way of bringing every player on board. The Spanish tactician became a father for the majority of his squad, and certainly improved a large junk of them as well.

Legacy of silverware and creating stars

Riveiro arrived in June 2022, and has gone on to win five trophies, namely three MTN 8 Cups and two Nedbank Cups.

The only real stain left behind by Jose Riveiro would be his inability to lift the South African Premiership, the league title, now known as the Betway Premiership. This is the only piece of silverware besides the CAF Champions League that has alluded him.

The birth of stars like Relebohile Mofokeng, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Thabiso Sesane and Mohau Nkota is some of the more notable careers that he has ignited within his short stint at the Sea Robbers. But wow what an impact he has made from day 1.

Riveiro wraps up in perfect style

So now he is leaving the Soweto giants having beaten Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-0 in such a professional way, synonymous with how he will be remembered. As he said goodbye to his players after the match, he hugged each one of them with the same amount of warmth and embrace.

After the match, coach Riveiro said that coaching Orlando Pirates was life changing and that his life won’t be the same again. But also that he could not disclose where he was going next, because of confidentiality. But as we previously reported, he is set to join Al Ahly pending final minor details.

“I wish but I can’t. There is things of confidentiality and stuff like that, it’s not me the one who has the responsibility to announce,” Riveiro told SuperSport.

“But it’s going to be very soon. I think that everybody will be understandable and hopefully happy for me and wishing me all the best.”

Gracias Jose Riveiro!

Stay tuned with The South African as we sign off Jose Riveiro’s time at Orlando Pirates.

What did you make of Riveiro’s stint in the PSL?

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