Riveiro’s Journey: The Email He Thought Was From MLS and His Rise at Pirates

In a recent revelation, former Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro disclosed that when he first received an email from the club, he confused it with a message from Orlando City SC, the American team that plays in Major League Soccer.

After three years coaching Inter Turku in Finland, the Spanish coach joined the Buccaneers, inking a three-year contract. His arrival was met with skepticism; some critics dismissed him as a “plumber,” a derisive term for an incompetent coach. 

His resume lacked major honors, and the team was struggling, mired in a trophy drought that left fans hungry for success.

However, Riveiro silenced his doubters, orchestrating a remarkable turnaround for the Soweto giants. Under his leadership, the Pirates became a formidable force once again, capturing five trophies in three seasons: three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups. 

His tenure marked a period of renewed competitiveness for the club, consistently positioning them as the main rivals to Mamelodi Sundowns, who have dominated the league for eight consecutive seasons. 

Riveiro also reminded the continent of Pirates' pedigree, guiding them to the CAF Champions League semifinals where their run was halted by Pyramids.

‘I COULD ONLY READ ORLANDO’

“I was cooking at home in Turku, and one email popped up; it was funny because I could only read Orlando,” said Riveiro.

“Somehow, ‘Hello, this is whoever from Orlando Pirates etc’. I read ‘Orlando’ and I said to the guys, it’s something from the USA, from the States, Orlando City is the name of the club.

“They said, ‘No, no Orlando Pirates is in South Africa’. I said okay. So, started the conversation.”

On how, he revived Pirates, he said, “I did it with determination, strong conviction of my capacity to be at the level that everybody was expecting from me.”