The latest coaching change at Orlando Pirates which have finally swallowed Josef Zinnbauer into the long list of former coaches has provided reminders about the volatility of that job.
Pirates announced on Monday that Zinnbauer had resigned just one game – an MTN8 defeat to Swallows FC – into the season.
The German has been a dead man walking for most of the past season and it was just a matter of when instead of if he would be packing his bags.
With the latest developments, Pirates have made changes with the season in motion in 15 of the 26 campaigns that the modern day PSL has run.
The facts show that only Rudi Krol has ever been able to last the length of his career and despite winning three trophies in his third year at the start of the double treble era his contract was not renewed.
Just like Krol, Gordon Igesund and Roy Barreto were all title winners but couldn’t stay on longer after lifting the league.
Zinnbauer goes away having been one of just a few coaches that have been able to stay on for a full season.
The Pirates coaching changes in the PSL era years:
1996/97 – Viktor Bondarenko/Augusto Palacios/Ronald Mkandawire
1997/98 – Ronald Mkandawire/Shaibu Amodu
1998/99 – Viktor Bondarenko
1999/00 – Ted Dumitru/Ronald Mkandawire
2000/01 – Gordon Igesund
2001/02 – Augusto Palacios/Jean-Yves Kerjean/Harris Chueu/Kerjean
2002/03 – Roy Barreto
2003/04 – Roy Barreto/Augusto Palacios
2004/05 – Kosta Papic
2005/06 – Kosta Papic/Teboho Moloi
2006/07 – Micho Sredojevic/Mutombo
2007/08 – Bibey Mutombo/Owen da Gama
2008-11 – Rudi Krol
2011/12 – Julio Leal/Augusto Palacios
2012/13 – Augusto Palacios/Roger de Sa
2013/14 – Roger de Sa/Eric Tinkler/Vermezovic
2014/15 – Vladimir Vermezovic/Eric Tinkler
2015/16 – Eric Tinkler
2016/17 – Muhsin Ertugral/Augusto Palacios/Kjell Jonevret
2017/18 – Micho Sredojevic
2018/19 – Micho Sredojevic
2019/20 – Micho Sredojevic/Rulani Mokwena/Josef Zinnbauer
2020/21 – Josef Zinnbauer
2021/22 – Josef Zinnbauer/???
