Jose Riveiro will wave goodbye at Orlando Stadium having completed a rare run in the most volatile coaching job in the PSL.
Riveiro will call the shots for the last time on Tuesday evening (19:30) against Golden Arrows before his early departure after indicating that he will not be taking a renewal on his three-year contract.
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His departure with another four games to play will mean he will no longer be able to join Rudi Krol in becoming the second coach to ever complete three full seasons as head coach at Pirates.
However, this will not take away the emotions which will accompany the Spaniard’s last game E’sigodini sika Maminzela.
Orlando Stadium is where Riveiro took charge of his first match on the afternoon of Saturday, August 6, 2022, against Moroka Swallows, which ended 1-0 in favour of Bucs.
Bienvenu Eva Nga was on target in a match which featured Thembinkosi Lorch, Thabang Monare, Ben Motshwari, and Fortune Makaringe who are all no longer at the club.
Not many knew about the Spaniard, neither did they have confidence he would last as long as he has done.
Fast-forward to May 2025, Riveiro has won five trophies, taken the Soweto giants to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, won five derbies in a row and finished second thrice in the league.
After arriving grateful for the opportunity, he will leave with his life having changed for the better as will be proven by the financial terms of his next contract at Al Ahly, where his earning will be well above triple what he was on at Pirates.
"My life will never be the same after being here as a Pirates coach.
"What else can I tell you?
"It’s a big change in my life.
"I’m not talking about football.
"I’m not talking about games.
"But I’m talking about all of those things that you say in the way that the people are expressing themselves towards me.
"It’s something special," he said after the confirmation of his departure last month.
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Tuesday’s match at Orlando will be number 59 of his time at Pirates.
Mandla Ncikazi will then take over for the rest of the season with second place already secured.
