Orlando Pirates confirmed on Monday that the club has granted head coach José Riveiro an early release from his contract.

The 47-year-old Spaniard will oversee his final match in charge when Bucs host Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday evening, Pirates wrote in a statement.

The club had initially announced on 3 April that Riveiro – who joined the Buccaneers three years ago – would not renew his contract when it expires in June.

Suggestions are that the Red Devils need Riveiro earlier to prepare the team ahead of their participation at the Fifa Club World Cup, which starts on 14 June and ends on 13 July.

Khoza added in the statement: “Given the timing, amid a series of crucial fixtures, we believed it was best to delay this announcement until after the Nedbank Cup final.

“His contribution since joining the club has been immense. We learnt a lot from him, and he learnt a lot from us.

“While we would have preferred to formally honour him with a proper send-off, we fully respect his decision to depart before the end of his tenure.”

Riveiro, who guided Pirates to the MTN8 Cup this season, will leave just a few days after Pirates lost the Nedbank Cup to Kaizer Chiefs in the final that was played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban at the weekend.

The defeat came not so long after Pirates agonisingly crashed out to a less-fancied Pyramids FC of Egypt in the Champions League semifinals.

Sundowns need a point from their remaining two fixtures to defend the league title.

Bucs, on the other hand, cannot be overtaken in the second spot even if they lose their remaining five matches.

He added: “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.

“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.

Pirates confirmed that Riveiro’s assistant, Mandla Ncikazi, will oversee the remaining matches of the season and will be supported by the club’s head performance analyst, Rayaan Jacobs.