Ex-Egypt international claims Al Ahly did not allow Jose Riveiro to work on his own terms
Boardroom interference? Former Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro was recently fired by Egyptian giants Al Ahly after just seven games in charge. Photo: Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP
Image: Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP
Former Egypt international Reda Abdel Aal believes Jose Riveiro had his back up against the wall the minute he arrived at Al Ahly.
Riveiro, who led Orlando Pirates to multiple domestic honours, was recently fired by Al Ahly after just seven games in charge, with the club sitting 13th in the Egyptian Premier League.
The decision, while abrupt, was hardly unprecedented for Al Ahly. The Cairo giants are notorious for their short fuse with coaches, having dismissed several managers in recent years when results or performances failed to meet the club’s sky-high expectations. With millions of fans and an unforgiving board demanding immediate success, few coaches are afforded the luxury of time.
Now Reda, who spent five years at the club between 1993 and 1998 and played 14 times at international level for Egypt, claims outside interference didn’t help the Spaniard with his job.
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"For me, Riveiro was wronged at Al Ahly because he wasn't working on his own terms; he was putting in the line-up that certain people wanted, not what he wanted," Reda said, as quoted by KickOff.
"The evidence that he was being imposed upon by others is that the player El-Shenawy was forced into the line-up.
"Yes, Riveiro is technically lacking, but for me, he was wronged."
With his brief Al Ahly spell now behind him, attention turns to his next move. Reports in North Africa suggest Algeria could be his next destination, a move that would not only allow him to rebuild his reputation but also bring him closer to his family in Spain.
As for a possible return to South Africa, Riveiro himself has already ruled that out. In his farewell to Orlando Pirates, he made it clear he would never coach another PSL side, stressing his loyalty to the Buccaneers.
When asked about this back in May, he said: “Once (a Pirates), Always (a Pirates). I will never coach any other team in South Africa. I am a Buccaneer. Orlando Pirates are the only club where I could have the motivation, the courage, the energy, and the heart to coach in the country.”
For now, Riveiro faces a crucial decision in his career – whether to take up the Algerian opportunity and rebuild his reputation there, or bide his time for another challenge on the continent. What is clear, however, is that despite his abrupt exit from Cairo, his track record in South Africa ensures his name will continue to carry weight in African football circles.
IOL Sport