View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma)

Exclusive: Ruud Krol reveals why he really left Orlando Pirates

After winning the Egyptian Cup with Zamalek and leading them to second place behind Al Ahly, Krol left the Egyptian giants to succeed Owen da Gama as Pirates head coach in 2008.

In his three years in the Absa Premiership, the Netherlands legend built a fearsome Buccaneers squad that won the MTN8, Nedbank Cup and league in the season after the 2010 World Cup.

However, after his unprecedented success, the Dutchman left upon the expiry of his initial three-year contract and was replaced by Brazilian coach Julio Leal.

1997/98 - Ted Dumitru (Sundowns) - The Romanian re
1997/98 - Ted Dumitru (Sundowns) - The Romanian replaced Reinhard Fabisch and guided them to their first PSL title. Sundowns suffered just four defeats, finishing on 68 points.
1998/99 - Ted Dumitru (Sundowns) - Dumitru won The
1998/99 - Ted Dumitru (Sundowns) - Dumitru won The Brazilians' second successive PSL title in a season that was decided on GD of +5. Sundowns and Chiefs finished on 75 points.
1999/00 - Paul Dolezar (Sundowns) - Born in Yugosl
1999/00 - Paul Dolezar (Sundowns) - Born in Yugoslavia, raised in France, Serbian citizenship, Dolezar's arrival helped Downs complete a hat-trick of league titles with 75 points.
2002/03 - Roy Barreto (Pirates, bottom left) - Zim
2002/03 - Roy Barreto (Pirates, bottom left) - Zim-born Barreto won the league but was then escorted out of Chatsworth Stadium under heavy security – one of the reasons he quit.
2003/04 - Ted Dumitru (Chiefs) - The Romanian was
2003/04 - Ted Dumitru (Chiefs) - The Romanian was back at it again as he led Amakhosi to their first ever PSL-era title. They finished on 63 points.
2004/05 - Ted Dumitru (Chiefs) - This time 62 poin
2004/05 - Ted Dumitru (Chiefs) - This time 62 points were enough for the Glamour Boys to finish as champions. He claims he left to pursue a research programme in local soccer.
2005/06 - Miguel Gamondi (Sundowns) - The Argentin
2005/06 - Miguel Gamondi (Sundowns) - The Argentinean won the league as a joint-coach alongside Neil Tovey. He arrived in South Africa in 2005 as an assistant to Angel Cappa.
2010/11 - Ruud Krol (Pirates) - This was the Bucca
2010/11 - Ruud Krol (Pirates) - This was the Buccaneers' third PSL title. The Dutch legend led Pirates to a historic treble but ended up leaving and was replaced by Julio Leal.
2011/12 - Augusto Palacios - (Pirates) - The Peruv
2011/12 - Augusto Palacios - (Pirates) - The Peruvian mentor took charge of the Soweto giants between March and September 2012, following Julio Leal's sacking.
2012/13 - Stuart Baxter (Chiefs) - This was the ye
2012/13 - Stuart Baxter (Chiefs) - This was the year Amakhosi did the double as they won both the league and Nedbank Cup. Baxter clinched their first league title in eight years.
2014/15 - Stuart Baxter (Chiefs) - Baxter, now dom
2014/15 - Stuart Baxter (Chiefs) - Baxter, now dominant in the PSL, led Amakhosi to both the league and MTN8 trophies. He is the last foreign coach to have won the title.

"They didn't want to renovate [sic] my contract, I don't know [why]. It was always a bit dubious I think but of course I have no problems with Pirates," Krol tells snl24.com/kickoff.

"They [were] always talking and talking about the contract, they said they want to renew it. The president [Irvin Khoza] wanted to talk but it never happened.

"So I went to America for my daughter and nothing happened in between. I stayed in South Africa for one year and then I eventually left to go to Tunisia, where I joined CS Sfaxien.

"I worked there very well and I have good memories. For the rest, I wish them all the best."

Since leaving Pirates, Krol won the Tunisian Ligue 1 with Sfaxien, the CAF Confederation Cup, the league once more with Esperance de Tunis, as well as the UNAF Club Cup with Raja Casablanca.

Related tags

Comments