History Maker | Jose Riveiro

It’s not often that a new head coach steps into a football club and immediately makes the kind of impact that Jose Riveiro has at Orlando Pirates.

This past weekend, Riveiro led his team to MTN8 glory with a commanding 3-1 victory over Stellenbosch FC. The win secured the Buccaneers their third consecutive MTN8 title – a record-breaking feat never before achieved in the Premier Soccer League era.

Riveiro, the once little-known Spaniard faced scepticism from parts of the football community when he joined the club two years ago. Critics questioned his so-called lack of experience, with some even resorting to derogatory labels, dismissing him as a “plumber.” But the then 46-year-old (now 49) took the higher road and focused on his work.

“I have been hired by the Club. We are going to work to make history together and build a team we are all proud of. I don’t spend time thinking about what people say about me. My work must do the talking for me,” he declared at the time.

And talk it has. In just 830 days at the helm, Riveiro’s accomplishments have reverberated throughout South African football. Under his guidance, the Mighty Buccaneers have roared back into a competitive force.

Three MTN8 titles, two Nedbank Cup trophies, and back-to-back second place finishes in the Betway Premiership are a testament to his leadership.

The Numbers Game

To truly appreciate Riveiro’s performance over the last two and a half years, a look at the numbers is revealing:

Win Ratio:

Riveiro has secured 58 wins, 17 draws, and 20 losses in 95 matches, giving him a win ratio of 60%. This ranks him second (alongside Mike Makaab) only to Julio Leal, who achieved a 64% win ratio, albeit from just 28 matches.

1. Top 3 Coaches by Win Ratio:
2. Julio Leal: 64%
3. Jose Riveiro: 60% / Mike Makaab: 60%
4. Ted Dumitru: 54%

Total Wins:
With 58 wins, Riveiro ranks second in total victories, behind only Ruud Krol, who managed 65 wins in 125 matches between 2008 and 2011.

Top 3 Coaches by Total Wins:

1. Ruud Krol: 65
2. Jose Riveiro: 58
3. Mike Makaab: 41

Personal Sacrifice

Even more remarkable than the numbers are, the personal sacrifice Riveiro has made for the success of Orlando Pirates. For all the joy he has brought to the “Happy People” – as Pirates supporters are affectionately known, his achievements have come at a significant personal cost.

As Napoleon Hill once said, “Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice and is never the result of selfishness.” Riveiro’s journey exemplifies this truth.

In 2022, Riveiro arrived in South Africa with two trusted colleagues, Sergio Almenara and Michel Bellver, to work on the Pirates Project. However, both eventually left, unable to adapt to the challenges of living far from family. But Riveiro, ever the captain, remained steadfast, navigating these same difficulties while steering his team through the challenging football season.

The emotional strain was evident after the recent MTN8 victory against Stellenbosch FC. As the final whistle blew, cameras captured a poignant moment: Riveiro crouched down, tears streaming from his eyes. These were not just tears of joy but also a reflection of the immense personal sacrifices he has made, many of which remain hidden from public view.

What many don’t know, for two long years, Riveiro has been separated from his wife and young daughter, enduring the isolation of distance while shouldering the weight of leading a football giant like Orlando Pirates. The mental toll of working away from family, compounded by the unrelenting demands of top-level coaching, would have broken many. Yet Riveiro has persevered, driven by a profound sense of duty to the club and its supporters.

In the face of adversity, Riveiro has remained the epitome of selflessness. His commitment to this institution and its success has never wavered, even at the expense of his own personal well-being.

Now, with the FIFA break offering a temporary respite, Riveiro finally has the chance to reconnect with his family – a long-overdue reunion for a man who has given so much of himself for the greater good.

#AppreciationPost