Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is the epitome of the general perspective that one doesn’t have to be a professional player to become a good football coach.
In a recent interview with PrimeSport With Mahlatse, the Spanish-born Sea Robbers coach revealed how he tried becoming a professional footballer.
But after noticing he was not good enough in the early stages of his playing career, Riveiro decided to switch to a career in the dugout.
“I played quite a lot since I was seven years old, and I wasn’t good enough to feel that I could be a professional football player even though I tried my best all the time,” Riveiro said.
“I tried to play in the third division at a club which was a satellite team of Celta Vigo but even though I had the opportunity to play, I didn’t think that I had the level to play there, and I was like overperforming at that time.”
Riveiro arrived in South Africa as a little-known coach from Finland where he had coached for about seven years.
“I got my first coaching licence at 19 years old. I was interested in coaching even though it was like an extra thing, (such as) coaching in the amateur ranks, and little by little I started making coaching my profession until I decided to be a professional football coach,” Riveiro said.
“And that was around 2010, not long ago.”
With him not being a former famous footballer or not having coached in one of the top leagues in the world, the 48-year-old didn’t arrive to a resounding welcome in South Africa.
Instead, he was made a mockery, and called by distasteful names on social media platforms.
But Riveiro allowed his impressive work with the Buccaneers to speak for himself as he won two trophies, MTN8 and Nedbank Cup, in his maiden season.
The Spaniard defended those titles last season and finished as runners-up in the league chase for the second time on the trot.
The coach is pleased with how his coaching career has turned out.
“I have no regrets about my decisions. I think it has been an excellent opportunity for me to grow,” Riveiro said.
“I had an opportunity to work in different countries. I have been involved in different football styles, learned different languages and proved to myself that I can be a coach even if not in my mother tongue.
“Everything has been excellent, I consider myself a lucky person because there are more coaches than clubs. There are more coaches than contracts.
“I have the opportunity to live my passion as a profession. I consider myself a privileged person.”
Riveiro aims to win the MTN8 for the third consecutive and first, he must deal with Cape Town City in the two-legged semi-finals.
The first leg takes place at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday at 18:00.
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