Jose Riveiro denies Pirates raid, details Al Ahly move

Jose Riveiro. Photo credit: Al Ahly

New Al Ahly head coach Jose Riveiro has swiftly moved to quash speculation linking him with new signings from his former club, Orlando Pirates.

The Spaniard also revealed that Pirates' impressive performances in the CAF Champions League were a key factor in the Egyptian giants pursuing his services.

Al Ahly had already secured five new players – Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Mahmoud Trezequet, Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, Hamdi Fathy, and Mohamed Seha – before Riveiro's appointment, with Aliou Dieng also returning from his loan spell at Al-Kholood.

However, since Riveiro's arrival last week (May 29, 2025), Egyptian media have persistently suggested he might raid his former team, Pirates, for reinforcements.

Riveiro, who departed Pirates on May 13, 2025, directly addressed these rumours in an interview with Al Ahly TV. "I have not requested the inclusion of any player from Orlando Pirates to Al Ahly out of respect for them, as I respect the club," he stated.

He further emphasised his immediate priorities, adding, "At the moment, I do not want to rush into looking for new deals. Rather, I am focusing on preparing for the Club World Cup, after which we will accurately determine our needs."

Riveiro has signed a two-year deal to succeed Marcel Koller and will lead the record 12-time African champions at the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. His first competitive match in charge will be on Sunday against Mexican powerhouse Pachuca, a warm-up fixture before their highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup opener against Inter Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium on June 15.

Reflecting on his journey from a relatively unknown figure to one of the continent's most sought-after coaches, Riveiro credits his three impressive years at Pirates. "I think the results at Orlando Pirates prompted Al Ahly to pursue me," he explained.

"I followed Al Ahly recently; we were eliminated from the Champions League semi-finals. After that, Al Ahly changed their technical team, which is why the negotiations with me were quick."

The Spaniard, who previously spent three years in the academy of Celta Vigo before his foray into senior coaching in Finland, admits his time with the Buccaneers was transformative.

"Coaching Orlando Pirates has given me a lot of value," he said. "At Pirates… I wasn’t just a coach; I worked on a project to create a new youth team, and I succeeded in doing so within three years. We won titles and went far in the CAF Champions League.

"I competed against Al Ahly when I was with Orlando, and we played two great matches. The continent learned about my capabilities as a coach during the last edition of the CAF Champions League."