By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Orlando Pirates Football Club have appointed Jose Riveiro as their new head coach for the 2022/2023 season.
“Orlando Pirates Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of José Riveiro to the position of Head Coach. Riveiro joins Pirates on a three-year deal,” the club announced.
Riveiro will be coming in with two assistants in Sergio Almenara and Miguel Bellver Esteve as the fitness trainer.
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? Read the Club Announcement ?? https://t.co/PCTf4T1U1F
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— Orlando Pirates FC (@orlandopirates) June 25, 2022
The 46-year old says he is happy to be part of Pirates and he is looking forward to make history with the club by working well together with his technical team.
“First of all, I would like to send a greeting to all the fans of Orlando Pirates. I am delighted to have joined the club. The Pirates project is an exciting one and I look forward to what lies ahead. It is an honour for me and my colleagues to have the responsibility to coach such an institution and compete for the highest goals,” said the new Pirates mentor.
“Along with my support team, we are looking forward to arriving and joining the task force and the group of players to start working immediately. We are going to work to make history together and build a team that we are all proud of.”
The Spanish coach was last in charge of FC Inter Turku in Finland, where he spent three years until 2021. The Vigo-born 46-year-old had previously worked as an assistant at other Finnish clubs, like FC Honka, PK-35 Vantaa and HJK, also in Finland.
The club on Monday confirmed the signing of four new players in Evidence Makgopa, Eva Nga, Miguel Timm and Azola Matrose.
FACTBOX:
– Born in Vigo, Galicia, Riveiro began his coaching career at early age, and took over his first senior team, CD Teis in the regional leagues shortly after. After three years in charge of the team, he spent two seasons as an assistant and coach of Rápido de Bouzas’ youth categories before returning to Teis.
– In 2010, Riveiro was appointed manager of Mondariz FC in the Primeira Autonómica (sixth division), achieving promotion to the Preferente in his first campaign. While in charge of the club, he was also a coach of CD Choco and RC Celta de Vigo’s youth categories.
– Riveiro resigned from Mondariz in May 2014,[4] and moved abroad in July to work at Finnish side FC Honka, as an assistant coach. In April of the following year, he moved to fellow league team PK-35 Vantaa, also as an assistant.
– On 7 June 2016, Riveiro was appointed assistant manager of Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. On 5 October 2018, he was named manager of FC Inter Turku.
– In his first season in charge, Riveiro led Inter to the second position in the Veikkausliiga, qualifying the side to a European competition after six years. On 25 September 2020, he renewed his contract for the 2021 campaign. For the 2022 season, Inter replaced him with Miguel Grau.