Orlando Pirates are searching for a new coach to replace departed Jose Riveiro but they could perhaps be looking for Hugo Broos’ successor instead had things gone according to plan.
Pirates took a chance on Riveiro in June 2022 to replace Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi who had worked as co-coaches during the 2021-22 campaign.
Before them, Pirates had gone through three coaches during the 2016-17 campaign when Turkish Muhsin Ertugral lasted four months before being replaced by Peruvian Augusto Palacios, who was in charge for three-and-a-half months, to be replaced by Swede Kjell Jonevret, who completed the season.
It is at this point when it has been revealed that the Buccaneers considered the possibility of bringing in Broos, who would later become Bafana Bafana coach, before Serbian Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic was given the job.
Pirates considered Broos before ‘Micho’
“After leaving Cameroon in 2017, there was a period when coach Hugo Broos was unattached. Orlando Pirates spoke to his camp, not directly with the coach, but I’m not sure what happened in those talks because they really wanted to bring him to South Africa to take charge of their team,” a source told KickOff.
“He was one of the strong candidates for the then vacant position because of his experience. Once again, they didn’t speak directly with the coach, as far as I know, but through his management team.”
It is reported that Pirates wanted veteran Broos to stabilise the team after so many coaching changes but it is not clear why terms could not be agreed before the Soweto giants turned to Micho.
Many coaching changes before Riviero
“Remember after Muhsin Ertugral resigned live on television in 2016? Augusto Palacios had to stand in as an interim until 2017. Then came Kjell Jonevret, who left in the same year. The team then appointed ‘Micho' (Milutin Sredojevic) for his second stint, and I think they were looking at coach Broos before Micho’s appointment,” the source further said.
After Sredojevic, Pirates would go through three coaching changes before Riveiro arrived in June 2022, with Rulani Mokwena taking brief charge before Joseph Zinnbauer came in between December 2019 and August 2021, after which Fadlu Davids worked as co-coach alongside Mandla Ncikazi for the 2021/22 season, reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final.
Broos, meanwhile, worked at Belgian club Oostende for one year between 2018 and 2019 before he took charge of Bafana Bafana in May 2021 and has since guided them to third place at 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, qualified for the 2025 tournament, and is in pole position to lead South Africa to the 2026 World Cup.
