Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro finally revealed his decision when he confirmed that he will be leaving the club at the end of this season.
Riveiro’s announcement left Pirates fans disappointed but he will leave the Buccaneers with his legacy intact after bringing success at the club and turning them from also-runs into title contenders that have also known how to win cups.
Besides, Riveiro’s team also play an attractive brand of football and he has managed to hand opportunities to several young players.
When Riveiro comes to the end of his stint at Pirates, he will not only be the longest-serving coach but also the most successful given the stats back him.
Longest-serving Pirates coach
Riveiro, who started his reign with the Buccaneers on July 1, 2022, became the longest-serving Pirates coach in the PSL era on March 11, 2025 when his team played out a goalless draw with Stellenbosch FC as that was his 120th league match.
That saw him overtake Dutchman Ruud Krol, who managed 119 games between 2008 and 2011.
Before Krol, Pirates’ longest-serving coach had been Kosta Papic with 74 games between 2004 and 2006.
Most trophies won
Riveiro is also the Pirates coach with most trophies as since his appointment, he has won five cups, being three straight MTN8 crowns, as well as two Nedbank Cups.
The only trophy missing from his collection is the PSL following back-to-back second place finishes to Mamelodi Sundowns but he is in the hunt this season with his team 12 points behind the Brazilians with three games in hand.
Krol is the second most successful Pirates coach after winning a treble in his last season in 2011, including the league title.
Riveiro has a chance to add onto his collection this season as his team is also in the Nedbank Cup semi-final and in the CAF Champions League quarter-final, for which they won the first leg 1-0 away.
Most points per game
Meanwhile, the Spanish mentor has also collected the most points per game among all Pirates coaches as he averages 2.08 from 78 wins in 122 matches, 20 draws and 22 defeats.
Riveiro’s closest challenger is Brazilian Julio Cesar Leal, who coached the club for nine months and two days between July 1, 2011 and April 2, 2012, managing 18 wins, four draws and six losses in 28 matches.
