Riveiro bows out early but leaves a lasting legacy at Orlando Pirates

José Riveiro will officially vacate his post as head coach of Orlando Pirates on Wednesday, after the club granted his request to be released before the end of the season, with his last match in charge the Sea Robbers Betway Premiership clash on Tuesday against Golden Arrows

The early departure has disrupted the club’s original plans to give him a fitting send-off, following his decision not to renew his contract next month. But regardless of the timing, Riveiro will leave Pirates as a bona fide club legend, having etched his name into the records during his three-year tenure.

Riveiro reached seventh heaven

Riveiro became the first Pirates coach in the PSL era to win the opening seven league matches of the season, surpassing Roy Barreto's six-game winning streak during the 2002/03 campaign.

Barreto’s early success laid the groundwork for a title-winning season, and expectations were high that Riveiro would follow a similar path. However, it wasn’t to be. Pirates struggled to balance their domestic and continental commitments, which led to them dropping crucial points in the Betway Premiership title race.

The Coach with the most appearances

The Spaniard will depart as the longest-serving coach in Pirates' history, having sat in the dugout for 132 matches — surpassing Ruud Krol’s previous record of 119.

While Krol famously guided Pirates to a league title in his final season, Riveiro came agonisingly close to taking the team to the CAF Champions League final. Riveiro’s consistency and longevity silenced many of his early critics, who dismissed him due to a modest coaching résumé.

Over time, those doubters were forced to eat humble pie as he delivered on the pitch.

The brains behind 'Cocomelon Football'

Riveiro also fostered a strong synergy between the senior squad and the club’s development structures — a connection that paid dividends.

Young talents such as Relebohile Mofokeng, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Mohau Nkota were promoted under his guidance and have since flourished on the big stage. The trio’s dynamic, fearless style of play earned them the nickname “Cocomelon Football”, drawn from the popular children’s cartoon — a nod to both their youth and their infectious energy.

Joint bragging rights as king of Soweto

Although Riveiro’s final Soweto Derby ended in heartbreak — a Nedbank Cup final defeat to Kaizer Chiefs — he remains one of the most successful coaches in the fixture's PSL-era history.

His record of five consecutive derby wins is matched only by former Chiefs manager Stuart Baxter.

Given the Derby’s status as South Africa’s premier football event, Riveiro took great satisfaction in proving his detractors wrong — especially after becoming the first Spaniard to lose a competitive match at FNB Stadium early in his tenure.

The cup specialist of Orlando

While Riveiro’s final season brought only one piece of silverware — the MTN8 — his overall haul of five major trophies helped end a lengthy drought and reignited a winning culture at the club.

He made history by becoming the first coach in the PSL era to win three consecutive MTN8 titles and to reach three straight Nedbank Cup finals. His back-to-back domestic doubles in his first two seasons marked one of the most successful starts by any coach in the club’s modern era.