Jose Rivero talks about his experience at Al Ahly! | OneFootball

The Spanish coach wasn't very happy here.

Jose Rivero talks about his experience at Al Ahly!

In a recent reflection on his career move, former Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro discussed his transition to Al Ahly, highlighting a particular aspect of the switch that did not sit well with him.

The Spanish tactician, who departed the Buccaneers in May 2025 before his contract's conclusion, explained the reasoning behind his leap to the North African project. Riveiro, who arrived at Pirates as a virtual unknown in 2022, dramatically shaped the club's destiny over three seasons. He masterminded their success in five domestic cup competitions, securing three consecutive MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups, while also guiding the team to three successive runner-up finishes in the league and a memorable CAF Champions League semi-final appearance.

His tenure at Al Ahly, however, was brief, ending in his dismissal after just a few months due to unsatisfactory results.

Regarding the pivotal decision to leave Pirates, Riveiro stated, "I’m not used to looking back in life; it [joining Al Ahly] was a decision that was made in certain circumstances."

He clarified the timing and motivation behind his exit, adding, "So to think about it now, it doesn’t make any sense. I don’t know if people understood the nature of my decision at that time, but I didn’t leave Pirates because of the move to Ahly. It was the decision that was made a long time ago."

The one element that caused him discontent was the rushed departure, as he revealed, "The only thing I didn’t like was the fact that I had to move before the season ended. I wasn’t happy about that, and it was a must [to join Al Ahly immediately]."