Former Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro says he has no regrets about leaving the club to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Riveiro, who is back in South Africa as an ambassador for the Carling Black Label Cup campaign, revealed that his decision to part ways with Pirates was made long before Al Ahly showed interest.
The Spaniard confirmed that as early as December last year, he had already decided not to extend his contract with the Soweto giants.
Riveiro left Pirates before the end of the season to take up the Al Ahly job, with the Egyptian champions urgently seeking a coach ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
During his time at Pirates, the 50-year-old delivered remarkable success, winning five trophies—three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups—while also guiding the club to the CAF Champions League semi-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Pyramids FC.
Across 132 matches, Riveiro registered 80 wins, 26 draws and 26 losses, cementing his status as the most successful coach in the club’s PSL era.
However, his tenure at Al Ahly was brief. He managed only one win in four matches, along with two draws and one defeat.
When asked whether he regretted leaving Pirates, Riveiro was clear:
“No,” he responded. “We can only go forward. I don’t look back at any decision I make in my life. I’ve explained many times that my decision to leave Pirates wasn’t related to Al Ahly or the club. The decision not to renew my contract was made in December 2024. Al Ahly’s interest came later. When we make decisions in our careers, we do so believing they are the right ones for us as individuals. Things happen for a reason, and I choose to take only the positives from the decisions I make.”
Following his departure, Pirates appointed Abdelsam Ouaddou during the off-season. Ouaddou has already delivered the MTN8 title and has taken the Buccaneers to the Carling Knockout Cup final, where they will face Marumo Gallants at Peter Mokaba Stadium on 6 December.
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