‘Jose Riveiro has informed management of his decision not to renew his contract beyond its current term,’ read a club statement on Thursday.
Orlando Pirates on Thursday announced that head coach Jose Riveiro will leave the club at the end of this season.
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Speculation was rife about the future of the Spanish coach, whose contract with Pirates will come to an end in June.
Pirates – ‘Jose Riveiro … stepping down’
“Orlando Pirates can reveal the Jose Riveiro will be stepping down from his position as head coach at the end of the season,” said the Buccaneers in a statement.
“Jose Riveiro has informed management of his decision not to renew his contract beyond its current term. The Spanish mentor’s contract is due to expire at the end of this current campaign.
“His professionalism and commitment to the club’s best interest prompted a timely announcement, ensuring business as usual for the remainder of the season while simultaneously creating an opportunity for the club to prepare for the future.
“In accordance with the coach’s wishes, the club will refrain from making detailed pronouncements at this time, reserving comprehensive tributes for a more appropriate occasion.
‘We fully respect his decision’
“While we would hav e liked Jose to extend his stay with us, at the same time, we fully respect his decision. We are grateful for everything he has done for the club,” said Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza.
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“The achievements of the intervening years speak for themselves. The joy that Jose and his support staff have brought this club will never be forgotten.”
Riveiro joined Pirates at the start of the 2022/23 season and in his first campaign in charge, the Buccaneers won both the MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup. They repeated the trick in the 2023/24 season, and then made it three MTN8 titles in a row when they beat Stellenbosch in October to win the 2024/25 edition.
The Buccaneers have also reached the Nedbank Cup semifinals again this season, and are in a good position to reach the semifinals of the Caf Champions League. They are also still in the hunt for the DStv Premiership title. Perhaps the one cloud over Riveiro’s reign is that he has not managed to run Sundowns closer for the league title.
