Out of all the coaches in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), recently sacked Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena would have been the least worried about keeping his job ahead of the new season.
That’s because in most cases, when a coach delivers a league title or enjoys any form of success, it’s almost an unwritten rule that they would be part of the club’s immediate future.
However, that has proven not to be always the case following the dramatic exit of the 37-year-old from the DStv Premiership reigning champions.
Despite Mokwena’s impressive record of 91 games, 60 victories, 22 draws and nine defeats as the head coach of Sundowns, the young mentor was still let go because of other differences with the club.
But this is not the first time in the PSL that a coach has been let go or resigned after winning the Premiership title or any other trophy.
Hollywoodbets Sports looks at other coaches who were fired or resigned after big success with their respective clubs.
Ruud Krol – Orlando Pirates
After leading Orlando Pirates to their unbelievable treble that included the league title, MTN8 and the Nedbank Cup in the 2010/11 season, Ruud Krol was surprisingly shown the exit by the Soweto giants.
Most Pirates supporters didn’t react well to the news as the Dutch legend had quickly become one of the favourite coaches to lead the side in the PSL era.
Krol was in the last year of his three-year deal and a fallout with the club’s management led to his contract not being renewed.
Under the former Netherlands skipper, Pirates had become a formidable side and played eye-catching football with players such as Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Daine Klate, Happy Jele, Lucky Lekgwathi and others.
Gordon Igesund – Orlando Pirates and Santos
Gordon Igesund cut ties with the Sea Robbers after helping them to their maiden league title in the PSL era.
In the build-up to his departure, Igesund was attacked by a group of Pirates fans that rocked up in a bus at a training session.
Earlier that season, the former Bafana Bafana boss had led the Buccaneers to the MTN8 trophy (formerly BP Top 8).
The Durban-born mentor left the Soweto giants for a less-fancied Cape Town side, Santos FC, and led them to their only league title in the 2001/02 season.
At the end of that season, the mentor was lured to join Santos cross-town rivals Ajax Cape Town which led to a court battle between Igesund and the People’s Team for breach of contract.
Pitso Mosimane – Mamelodi Sundowns
The legendary South African coach, Mosimame, will always be credited for being the genius behind the current Sundowns’ success and dominance of local football.
Mosimane found Masandawana in shambles when he joined them in 2012 and took them to dizzy heights by conquering Africa to win the CAF Champions League in 2016.
The decision to part ways with Sundowns in 2020 to join Egyptian giants Al Ahly sent shocking waves across the continent as he had just led the Pretoria side to their third successive league title.
Stuart Baxter – Kaizer Chiefs
Stuart Baxter has had two well-publicised divorces with Kaizer Chiefs, but the first one in 2015 is the one that hurt the most for a lot of Amakhosi supporters.
The Brit just jumped the ship after winning the league and MTN8 and he still had a year left in his contract with the Glamour boys. Media reports suggested tension between the coach and management over the release of certain players that were key to his success.
After his exit, Chiefs have never been the same, going for nine seasons without silverware.
Julio Leal – Orlando Pirates
Julio Leal inherited a very successful Orlando Pirates team from Krol, and the Brazilian coach continued where the Dutchman left off, leading the Sea Robbers to the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout (now known as the Carling Knockout Cup) in less than six months in charge.
However, the club suspended the Leal in March 2012, citing a poor run of results as a reason and later fired and replaced by Augusto Palacios, who led the club to the league title defence.
Leal’s early exit from the Champions League made it hard for Pirates management to stick with him despite winning two trophies.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Rhulani Mokwena Agree to Part Ways
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) July 3, 2024
Mamelodi Sundowns and Rhulani Mokwena amicably concluded an agreement bringing to an end Rhulani Mokwena’s employment as Head Coach.
Sundowns wishes to express its gratitude to Rhulani Mokwena for his contribution to… pic.twitter.com/U1pEnN7Bd4
