Name: José Luis Riveiro
Age: 47
Nationality: Spanish
Current team: Orlando Pirates Football Club (DStv Premiership – South Africa)
Previous teams: FC Inter Turku (Veikkausliiga – Finland)
Coaching license: UEFA Pro License
UEFA Pro Licensed José Riveiro, who spent the bulk of his coaching career as an assistant coach, became the first DStv Premiership coach to win silverware in an official competition this season, when Orlando Pirates lifted the MTN 8 cup last month for the second time in three seasons. Riveiro is the first-ever Spanish coach to win the competition in its 46-year history.
Also a debutant in the South African professional football landscape, the Spaniard joined Pirates as its head coach ahead of the 2022/23 season, from Finland’s FC Inter Turku – where he held the same position – and he has somewhat managed to stabilise the ship after a tumultuous 2021/22 season for the Soweto Giants.
Under his tutelage, Pirates’ defensive patterns have paid off, with the team being the third most defensive team (jointly with TS Galaxy) in the league, having conceded only seven goals in 13 matches so far. Although Riveiro’s Pirates is currently one of the most difficult teams to score against, the team rarely finds the back of the net, having scored only nine goals by the time the league went on recess ahead of the world cup – compared to the 24 goals that log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns are on.
All eyes will be on Riveiro and his approach in attack when the two teams meet in their next league fixture on New Year’s Eve.