Since the start of the Betway Premiership era, Orlando Pirates have appointed several high-profile coaches, but only four have managed to deliver the league title for the Soweto giants. Gordon Igesund was the first, guiding the Buccaneers to their inaugural Betway Premiership-era crown in the 2000/01 season. His side accumulated 74 points with 23 wins to upset the traditional powerhouses. Roy Barreto followed in 2002/03, earning praise for handling the pressure of leading a relatively youthful squad featuring stars like Lesley Manyathela and Williams Okpara to glory. Ruud Krol then ended a seven-year league drought in the 2010/11 campaign, clinching the title on the final day before completing a historic treble with MTN8 and Nedbank Cup triumphs. Augusto Palacios took charge midway through the following season, guiding Pirates to a second successive league crown in 2012 before being dismissed after a poor start to the next campaign.
Among the club’s most celebrated tacticians, Krol and Jose Riveiro combined for eight trophies during their time at the club. While Riveiro fell short in the league race, the Spaniard restored Pirates’ status among South Africa’s elite by lifting five domestic trophies across three years and rebuilding the team into genuine title contenders. Krol remains the coach who delivered the long-awaited league crown in 2011 before guiding Pirates to that memorable treble.
Currently, Orlando Pirates still have an opportunity to add another league title under Abdeslam Ouaddou. Should the Buccaneers win their remaining two matches, they will secure only their fifth Betway Premiership crown, matching the achievements of Igesund, Barreto, Krol, and Palacios. This puts the current squad on the brink of exclusive company in the club’s modern history.