Former Pirates and Al Ahly coach Riveiro finds new home

Swedish Allsvenskan giants AIK have officially handed Jose Riveiro a path back to European football, confirming the Spaniard as their new head coach on a two-year deal.

The contract, which runs until December 2028, sees Riveiro return to the dugout just months after a high-profile collapse in Cairo left his coaching stock in a state of flux.

Riveiro arrives at the Friends Arena with a resume defined by extreme highs and sudden lows. His reputation was forged in the furnace of South African football, where he transformed Orlando Pirates from perennial underachievers into the “Cup Kings” of the Betway Premiership.

Between 2022 and 2024, the 48-year-old enjoyed a golden era in Soweto, securing five trophies in just two seasons: a historic hat-trick of MTN8 titles and back-to-back Nedbank Cups. Under his watch, the Buccaneers became the primary threat to Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance, finishing as league runners-up three seasons running and reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.

However, that “Midas touch” deserted him the moment he crossed into North Africa. His tenure at Al Ahly—traditionally the most stable and successful job on the continent—was nothing short of a catastrophe. The Egyptian heavyweights terminated his contract after a dismal three-month stint in which he managed just a single victory in seven outings.

Riveiro Returns to Europe with AIK After Egypt Nightmare

After several months clubless, AIK have now bet on the version of Riveiro that conquered South Africa rather than the one that faltered in Egypt.