Kaizer Chiefs reveal Osimhen and Hazard link that made Da Cruz attractive

Kaizer Chiefs have waxed lyrical about their new coach Fernando Da Cruz whose appointment was confirmed on Wednesday.

Chiefs finally announced that Da Cruz will be their new coach with the Frenchman having signed a two-year deal with the option for another and set to begin work at the start of July.

The Glamour Boys hope the 54-year-old will lead them to success after they finished third last season under co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.

Chiefs appoint Fernando da Cruz as head coach

Kaizer Chiefs are pleased to confirm the appointment of Fernando da Cruz as Head Coach. He has signed a two-year contract with a one-year option, effective 1 July 2026.

Born in France, Da Cruz comes highly qualified with a UEFA Pro… pic.twitter.com/NKnLfha7oH
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) June 17, 2026

Da Cruz is no stranger to Naturena as he worked briefly at the club in 2024 when he arrived as one of the assistants of ex-coach Nassredine Nabi in July that year and worked for a few weeks before taking up the role of Technical Director at the Moroccan Football Federation until this month.

Da Cruz’s previous jobs before Chiefs

Before that, he had won the Moroccan league with AS FAR during the 2022-23 season and also worked at Belgian side Mouscron, first as an assistant and then as head coach. He also had a stint as coach of French side Lille B.

It is during his period with Lille B, where he worked with youngsters who later turned out to be world class players, that has also attracted Chiefs, who hope their array of exciting young players will benefit from the tactician’s tendency to give youth a chance and nurture them.

Fernando Da Cruz during his first stint at Kaizer Chiefs. Photo by Kaizer Chiefs

“The 54-year-old brings a wealth of experience to the Soweto giants,” Chiefs said of Da Cru through a statement on the club’s website.

Nurturing Osimhen and Hazard

“His remarkable coaching journey includes three separate stints at French powerhouse Lille, where he worked under renowned Argentine manager, Marcelo Bielsa, and helped nurture future international stars such as Idrissa Gueye, Lucas Digne, Victor Osimhen, and Eden Hazard.

Fernando Da Cruz has rejoined Kaizer Chiefs as head coach. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

“Da Cruz’s success, however, extends beyond Europe. In the 2022/23 season, he impressively guided AS FAR to the Moroccan Botola League title, cementing his reputation as a proven winner. His strong background in youth development and academy structures aligns neatly with Chiefs’ long-term vision,” the Glamour Boys further stated.

The Kaizer Chiefs squad will return to training on Thursday, June 18 under new assistant coach, Egyptian Mahmoud Abbas, as they await Da Cruz’s arrival in July before they depart for pre-season in Germany.