Jose Riveiro, the man now at the helm of Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, has revealed that it was the stellar performances of Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League that directly influenced the North African club's pursuit of his talents.
Riveiro's candid admission highlights Al Ahly's strategic approach to recruitment, recognizing and valuing the quality of his work on the continental stage.
He has officially put pen to paper on a two-year deal, stepping into the significant role previously held by Marcel Koller.
This new chapter immediately places him in charge of the record 12-time African champions as they prepare for the prestigious 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
His ascent to this top coaching position marks a remarkable trajectory: Riveiro arrived at Orlando Pirates just three years ago as a relatively unknown entity, yet through consistent success and compelling continental performances, he cultivated a reputation that saw him become one of the most coveted coaches on the African continent, ultimately leading to this high-profile move to Al Ahly.
‘AFRICA HAVE LEARNT MY CAPABILITIES’
“I think the results at Orlando Pirates prompted Al Ahly to pursue me. I followed Al Ahly recently; we were eliminated from the Champions League semi-finals,” he explained in an interview with Al Ahly TV as quoted by iDiski Times.
“After that, Al Ahly changed their technical team, which is why the negotiations with me were quick.
“Coaching Orlando Pirates has given me a lot of value. At Pirates… I wasn’t just a coach; I worked on a project to create a new youth team, and I succeeded in doing so within three years.
“We won titles and went far in the CAF Champions League. I competed against Al Ahly when I was with Orlando, and we played two great matches. The continent learned about my capabilities as a coach during the last edition of the CAF Champions League.”
