Johannesburg (AFP) – Fallen South African giants Orlando Pirates named Swede Kjell Jonevret as coach Monday in succession to Turk Muhsin Ertugral.
The 54-year-old Scandinavian inherits a team lying 10th in the league after suffering a club record 6-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend.
Pirates only realistic chance of success this season is winning the South African FA Cup, which begins next month.
“I have visited South Africa several times and watched local matches,” he told reporters after the announcement.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me with one of the biggest names in African club football.”
Jonevret coached five Swedish clubs with a 2005 league-cup double at Djurgardens the highlight.
Moving to Norway, he had four-year spells with Molde and Viking, his most recent club.
Pirates and another Soweto club, Kaizer Chiefs, are the most successful and popular South African football sides.
Matches between them regularly draw 90,000 crowds to Soccer City stadium, scene of the 2010 World Cup final won by Spain.
Pirates reached the CAF Champions League final twice, winning in 1995 and finishing runners-up in 2013.
They were also losing finalists in the secondary African club competition, the CAF Confederation Cup, two years ago.
