Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has officially surpassed Ruud Krol as the club’s longest-serving coach in the PSL era.
On Tuesday, Riveiro reached a significant milestone by leading the Buccaneers for the 120th time in all competitions during their clash against Stellenbosch FC. However, his special moment wasn’t marked with a victory, as Pirates were held to a goalless draw.
Despite the result, Riveiro boasts a higher winning percentage compared to Krol. Additionally, he has already won more domestic trophies than the Dutchman managed during his three-year tenure at the club.
The one major achievement still missing from Riveiro’s collection is the league title. After finishing as runners-up twice in a row, expectations were high for Pirates to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns this season.
Pirates started the campaign strongly, fueling hopes of a title-winning season. However, with around 10 league games remaining, they now trail Sundowns by 18 points, making the title race an uphill battle.
Riveiro’s Record-Breaking Achievement
Despite not yet completing three full seasons, Riveiro has already overseen more games than Krol, who managed 119 competitive matches for Pirates.
The 49-year-old has been in charge of 120 games, winning 74, drawing 23, and losing 23. In contrast, Krol recorded 60 wins, 38 draws, and 21 losses in his 119 matches.
Riveiro has secured five trophies with Pirates—winning the MTN8 three times and the Nedbank Cup twice. Krol, on the other hand, achieved a historic treble in his final season, lifting the MTN8, the Nedbank Cup, and the league title.
As Riveiro continues his journey with Pirates, the question remains—can he finally deliver the elusive league title?
