It was confirmed earlier this season that Jose Riveiro would be leaving Orlando Pirates at the end of the current campaign, bringing an end to his generally successful tenure at the club. However, his final weeks with the team have been far from ideal, as Pirates faced a tough loss to Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League semi-finals and fell short against Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final.
Just days after the cup disappointment, Orlando Pirates announced that Riveiro had been granted an early release from his contract, which was set to run until June 2025. He will now take charge of the team for the final time when they host Golden Arrows on Tuesday evening.
Speaking to orlandopiratesfc.com, Riveiro shared an emotional farewell: “I want to thank Orlando Pirates for giving me the chance to leave before my contract officially ends. Saying goodbye is never easy, and this moment is especially difficult for me.”
He continued, “I’m incredibly grateful to everyone at the club—from the management and technical staff to the players and the hardworking individuals behind the scenes who make everything possible. To the players, thank you for believing in our journey together and for always giving your best on the pitch. And to the supporters, when I arrived, I challenged you to come out and support the team in numbers. You did that and more. You made every match unforgettable, and I’ll always carry your passion with me.”
Dr. Irvin Khoza, Chairman of Orlando Pirates, also commented on the decision: “Jose approached us a few weeks ago, requesting an early release as he has signed with another club. Given the timing, with important fixtures on the horizon, we decided to wait until after the Nedbank Cup Final to announce it. Jose’s contribution has been invaluable, and although we would have preferred to give him a proper farewell, we fully respect his decision to leave before the end of his contract.”
