According to Unplayable, the French-Portuguese tactician has signed a two-year contract with Kaizer Chiefs. The move remains subject to an official announcement from the Soweto giants.
The reported appointment follows weeks of speculation over who would lead Amakhosi after the expiry of the contracts of co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef.
The pair guided the club to a third-place finish in the Betway Premiership last season after taking charge following Nasreddine Nabi’s departure.
KAIZER CHIEFS SET FOR FAMILIAR FACE
Ahead of the official announcement, Fernando Da Cruz would the return of a familiar fac to Naturena.
Da Cruz joined Kaizer Chiefs in 2024 as a member of Nasreddine Nabi’s technical team during the club’s rebuilding process. His spell at Naturena proved brief, however, as he left after the pre-season period to take up a role with the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), where he focused on football development and technical operations.
Reports have also suggested that Da Cruz could arrive with members of his own technical team as Kaizer Chiefs prepare for a new era under a single head coach.
Kaizer Chiefs have yet to confirm the appointment officially, but all indications point to Da Cruz taking charge ahead of pre-season. If announced, he will inherit a squad that secured CAF Confederation Cup qualification by finishing third in the Betway Premiership and will be expected to build on that progress in the upcoming campaign.
WHO IS FERNANDO DA CRUZ?
Da Cruz is a UEFA Pro Licence holder who has built a reputation for his tactical approach, meticulous preparation and preference for organised, possession-based football, often using a 4-2-3-1 system.
Before entering football coaching, Da Cruz captained the French national futsal team. He later moved into scouting and youth development with LOSC Lille, where he began laying the foundations for a coaching career that has taken him across Europe and Africa.
His coaching journey included roles at Belgian side Royal Excel Mouscron, where he served as assistant coach before taking temporary charge of the first team during the 2014/15 season. He also held various scouting and development positions in France and Belgium, including overseeing Lille’s reserve side.
Da Cruz enjoyed one of the most successful spells of his career at AS FAR Rabat in Morocco. After initially working as the club’s academy technical director, he was promoted to head coach and guided the side to the 2022/23 Botola Pro title.
He later remained within the club’s technical structure and worked alongside Nasreddine Nabi. With experience in France, Belgium, Morocco and South Africa, Da Cruz has established himself as a coach with a strong background in player development, recruitment and elite football management.
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