Orlando Pirates head coach, Jose Riveiro, will depart from the club immediately following the match against Golden Arrows on Tuesday.
The Spanish coach has had a successful tenure, winning five trophies in three seasons with the Buccaneers. In April, he made a surprising announcement that he would leave the club when his contract expires in June.
After recently losing the Nedbank Cup to Kaizer Chiefs, Riveiro appeared visibly frustrated during his post-match interview with the media.
“There is no last dance. We have a game on Tuesday and we have to win,” he said.
On Monday, Pirates announced that Jose Riveiro would be granted an early release before his contract ended.
“Jose approached us a few weeks ago with a request to be released from his contract ahead of schedule, having signed with a new club,”said Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza in a statement.
“Given the timing; amidst a series of crucial fixtures – we believed it was best to delay this announcement until after the Nedbank Cup Final. His contribution since joining the Club has been immense. We learned a lot from him, and he learned a lot from us.
Jose Riveiro leaves Pirates abruptly
“While we would have preferred to formally honour him with a proper send-off, we fully respect his decision to depart before the end of his tenure,” he said.
“Coach Riveiro leaves behind a legacy of excellence, having written his name into the history books of the Club with a remarkable coaching record and a string of silverware,” said the Pirates boss.
Speaking to orlandopiratesfc.com, Jose Riveiro said he was grateful to Pirates for giving him the opportunity.
“I want to express my sincere appreciation to Orlando Pirates for allowing me the opportunity to leave before the end of my contract. As someone who has never found goodbyes easy, this moment is particularly emotional for me.
“I am deeply grateful to everyone at the Club – from management and technical staff to the players and the many individuals behind the scenes who work tirelessly to support the team.
Jose Riveiro won five trophies for Pirates
“To the players, thank you for believing in the journey we shared and for giving everything on the pitch. And to the supporters. When I first arrived, I challenged you to come out in your numbers and rally behind your team. You did that, and more. You turned every match into a moment to remember, and your passion is something I will carry with me forever.
“Thank you for allowing me to be part of this great club’s story.”
With his tenure at Pirates coming to an end, Jose Riveiro is expected to join Al Ahly in the coming days.
Who should Riveiro be replaced with?
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