Riveiro says he’s delighted to join ‘European club’ Al-Ahly

Jose Riveiro has described his move to Egyptian giants Al-Ahly as a dream come true.

Two weeks after leaving Orlando Pirates, Riveiro was announced as the new head coach of reining African champions on Thursday.

READ MORE: Ahly confirm appointment of ex-Pirates coach Riveiro

The Spaniard has reportedly signed a two-year contract with Al-Ahly,

“I’m in a European club. You don’t lack anything. This is what I dreamt of and hoped for, to coach a team the size of Al Ahly,” Riveiro is quoted as saying by the Egyptian media after his unveiling.

Riveiro replaces Marcel Koller, who was sacked following the narrow defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns in the semifinals of the CAF Champions League.

Emad El-Nahhas took over as interim head coach and guided the club to their third successive Premier League title. El-Nahhas will remain in the setup as assistant coach to Riveiro.

Dream start for the Spaniard

His first task is to try and win the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. Ahly are in Group A with Portuguese giants FC Porto, Palmeiras of Brazil and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

Riveiro joins the Red Devils off the back of a remarkably successful stint at Pirates. His three years stay at the Buccaneers saw him winning five trophies – three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups.

He also led Pirates to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Pyramids.

The Spaniard officially left Pirates after a 3-0 win over Golden Arrows two weeks before the end of the season.

Riveiro pays tribute to Pirates

Riveiro paid tribute to Pirates management for allowing him to leave before the end of my contract.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to Orlando Pirates for allowing me the opportunity to leave before the end of my contract. As someone who has never found goodbyes easy, this moment is particularly emotional for me.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone at the Club – from management and technical staff to the players and the many individuals behind the scenes who work tirelessly to support the team.

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“To the players, thank you for believing in the journey we shared and for giving everything on the pitch. And to the supporters. When I first arrived, I challenged you to come out in your numbers and rally behind your team. You did that, and more. You turned every match into a moment to remember, and your passion is something I will carry with me forever.”