Since the start of the PSL era, Orlando Pirates have appointed several high-profile coaches, but only four have managed to deliver the league title for the Soweto giants.
Among the club’s most celebrated tacticians are Ruud Krol and Jose Riveiro, who won a combined eight trophies during their time at the club.
Krol remains the coach who delivered the long-awaited league crown in 2011 before guiding Pirates to a historic treble.
Riveiro, meanwhile, fell short in the league race but restored the Buccaneers’ status among South Africa’s elite.
During his three-year spell, the Spaniard lifted five domestic trophies and rebuilt the team into genuine title contenders once again.
Here are four ex-Orlando Pirates coaches who won the league
Gordon Igesund (2000/01)
Igesund had already etched his name into South African football history after leading Manning Rangers to a remarkable league triumph during the 1996/97 season. His side accumulated 74 points with an impressive 23 wins, five draws, and six defeats to upset the traditional powerhouses.
In 2000, he arrived at Orlando Pirates and guided the Buccaneers to their first-ever PSL-era league title. He departed the club in 2001 and continued his success elsewhere, winning another championship with Santos the following season.
Roy Barreto (2002/03)
Barreto’s title-winning squad featured stars such as Lesley Manyathela, Papi Khomane, Willem Jackson, Innocent Chikoya, and goalkeeper Williams Okpara.
The coach earned praise for handling the pressure that came with leading a relatively youthful side to league glory.
Ruud Krol (2010/11)
After spending two seasons assembling a competitive squad, Krol began the 2010/11 campaign by winning the MTN8. Pirates then battled Ajax Cape Town in a gripping title race before clinching the league crown on the final day of the season, ending a seven-year wait for league success.
The Buccaneers went on to complete a memorable treble by adding the Nedbank Cup to the MTN8 and league title.
Augusto Palacios (2011/12)
The Peruvian tactician took charge midway through the season after Pirates parted ways with Julio Leal. Palacios guided the club to a second successive league title in 2012, cementing Pirates’ dominance during that period.
Despite delivering silverware, a poor start to the 2012/13 campaign saw him dismissed after just five matches.
Currently, Orlando Pirates still have an opportunity to add another league title under Abdeslam Ouaddou. Should the Buccaneers win their remaining two matches, they will secure only their fifth Betway Premiership crown.
