Familiar Face Returns to Naturena
Kaizer Chiefs are about to bring back a familiar face. Fernando Da Cruz, the French-Portuguese tactician who spent a brief spell at the club in 2024, has signed a two-year contract to become the new head coach. The move is subject to an official announcement from the Soweto giants, but all signs point to Da Cruz taking charge ahead of pre-season.
Da Cruz first joined Kaizer Chiefs in 2024 as part of Nasreddine Nabi's technical team during the club's rebuilding process. But his stay was short — he left after pre-season to take up a role with the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), where he focused on football development and technical operations.
Now he's back, this time as the main man. Reports suggest Da Cruz could arrive with his own technical team as Amakhosi prepare for a new era under a single head coach.
Who is Fernando Da Cruz?
Da Cruz holds a UEFA Pro Licence and is known for his tactical approach, meticulous preparation, and preference for organised, possession-based football — he often uses a 4-2-3-1 system.
Before moving into football coaching, Da Cruz captained the French national futsal team. He later moved into scouting and youth development with LOSC Lille in France. His coaching journey took him to Belgian side Royal Excel Mouscron, where he served as assistant coach before temporarily taking charge of the first team during the 2014/15 season.
But his most successful spell came at AS FAR Rabat in Morocco. After working as the club's academy technical director, he was promoted to head coach and led the side to the 2022/23 Botola Pro title. He later stayed within the club's technical structure and worked alongside Nasreddine Nabi.
With experience in France, Belgium, Morocco, and South Africa, Da Cruz has built a reputation for player development, recruitment, and elite-level management.
The appointment ends weeks of speculation over who would lead Amakhosi after the contracts of co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef expired. The pair guided the club to a third-place finish in the Betway Premiership last season after taking over following Nabi's departure.
Da Cruz inherits a squad that secured CAF Confederation Cup qualification by finishing third. The expectation is clear — build on that progress and push for silverware in the upcoming campaign.
The club hasn't confirmed the appointment officially yet, but the announcement is expected soon. For Chiefs fans, it's a return of a coach who already knows the environment — and one who has a point to prove after his first stint ended before it really began.