Al Ahly have officially announced the long-awaited confirmation of Jose Riveiro as their head coach on a two-year contract.
The question now is whether the Spanish Guitar will find its tune and rhythm at Africa’s biggest club in Egypt.
Riveiro is embarking on arguably the biggest mission of his life as a coach after his rather successful stint at Orlando Pirates, where he won trophies and broke records, despite not delivering the elusive Premier Soccer League title in the three years he spent at the club.
Despite improving Pirates on many fronts of their game, winning the MTN8 title for a record three times in a row and the Nedbank Cup twice, the Spaniard was always second best to Mamelodi Sundowns in the league, who consistently dominate South African football and just keep on raising the bar high.
Al Ahly’s high standards
Even Riveiro himself, at some point, conceded that it would be difficult to play catch-up against a Sundowns team that is spoilt with quality and regarded as a “point machine”.
Yes, Riveiro tried his best to challenge them by also upping their game this season and reaching the 60-point mark, but it was just not enough; it will never be enough against a team that has set the benchmark of winning the league with no less than 70 points.
Now, Riveiro will be going to a club that has very high standards and much bigger ambitions.
Winning the league with Ahly is not taboo, as the board of the club, led by Mahmoud El Khatib, demands the CAF Champions League every season and to participate in the Fifa Club World Cup.
Even his predecessor Marcel Koller could not survive the chop, despite winning back-to-back Champions League titles.
This season, however, Koller failed to reach the final and was not doing well enough in the league. Riveiro beat him both home and away in the group stages this season.
So, maybe SA-born coach Pitso Mosimane should be Riveiro’s point of reference, as he won two Champions League trophies and two Club World Cup bronze medals in the two years he spent at the Club of the Century.
Riveiro’s first test looming
Also, how Riveiro handles the media will be key, because, for instance, here in SA, it would be easy for him to get away with a lot and sometimes take a jab at journalists who, most of the time, asked him relevant questions about the team and “individual players”.
In north Africa, particularly in Egypt, the reporters are known to be straightforward, tough in their questioning, and sometimes, if not most of the time, bullish, especially when the results are not coming.
Like they say, media can make or break you and a practical example is Rulani Mokwena at Wydad Casablanca, whose time in Morocco was short-lived after blasting at the media, who were rightfully questioning him for the uninspiring run of matches.
So, with that said, El Khatib’s message to Riveiro in their first meeting was probably that he must defend the league title and win the Champions League next season.
With better facilities and quality players, the Spanish Guitar will be expected to deliver and showcase what he is really capable of achieving.
Jose’s first test as Ahly boss will be the Club World Cup in the US, and he will probably be expected to at least make it out of the group stages, as tough as it may be against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, Brazilian giants Palmeiras, and Portuguese side FC Porto.
