Manager Profile: Jose Luis Riviero

Country: Spain

Birthdate: 15 September, 1977

Teams managed: Inter Turku, Orlando Pirates

Estimated Salary: R650,000 per month

Career Trophies: 3 x MTN 8, 2 x Nedbank Cup (head coach)
2 x Finnish League champion, 1 x Finnish Cup (Assistant coach)

Personal Life

Jose Riviero is a Spanish coach born in Galicia, Vigo. He is married and has one daughter with his partner.

In October 2024, Orlando Pirates released a statement revealing that the coach has not seen his family in a couple of years.

"What many don't know, for two long years, Riveiro has been separated from his wife and young daughter, enduring the isolation of distance while shouldering the weight of leading a football giant like Orlando Pirates," said the club.

"The mental toll of working away from family, compounded by the unrelenting demands of top-level coaching, would have broken many. Yet Riveiro has persevered, driven by a profound sense of duty to the club and its supporters.

"In the face of adversity, Riveiro has remained the epitome of selflessness. His commitment to this institution and its success has never wavered, even at the expense of his own personal well-being."

Career

The diminutive coach began his managerial career at an early age and took his first job as a senior team head coach at CD Teis in the regional leagues when he was only 21.

He spent three seasons there before joining Rapido de Bouzas as an assistant and coach of the youth teams before returning to CD Teis in 2003.

In 2010, Riviero then moved to take over the helm at Mondariz FC in the Primeira Autonómica (sixth division), achieving promotion to the Preferente in his first campaign.

While he was in charge of the club, he was also serving as a coach of CD Choco and RC Celta de Vigo's youth categories.

Riveiro resigned from Mondariz in May 2014 and moved abroad in July to work at Finnish side FC Honka, as an assistant coach. In April 2015, he moved to fellow league team PK-35 Vantaa, also as an assistant.

On 7 June 2016, Riveiro was appointed assistant manager of Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi, where he served before being named manager of FC Inter Turku in 2019.

In his first season in charge, Riveiro led Inter to the second position in the Veikkausliiga, qualifying the side to a European competition after six years.

On 25 September 2020, he renewed his contract for the 2021 campaign but then during the 2022 season, Inter replaced him with compatriot Miguel Grau.

In June 2022, Riviero was announced as Orlando Pirates head coach, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal.

The Spaniard arrived in South Africa under much scrutiny following his unveiling, famously being touted as a "plumber" by doubtful football fans who knew little of his exploits in Spain and Finland.

However, Riviero responded by making history by becoming the first coach to win three consecutive MTN8 titles as well as winning back to back Nedbank Cup titles with the Soweto Giants.

He has also been responsible for two successive second place finishes in the league and for Orlando Pirates reaching the 2024/25 CAF Champions League semi-finals before being eliminated by Pyramids FC.

In April 2025, the Soweto giants announced that Jose Riviero will not renew his contract at the end of the current season and was granted permission for an early release from his contract with his final match on the bench will being against Golden Arrow on 13 May 2025.

Besides the trophies, Riviero will be remembered for having faith in young players, with Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Mbekezeli Mbokazi all playing regularly and influencing big matches.

He also boasts sharing the record of five victories in the Soweto derby alongside Stuart Baxter.

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