Alexandre Santos in a CAF Champions League press conference for Petro de Luanda. Image: @petro_de_luanda/ X

Who is Kaizer Chiefs manager target Alex Santos?

All you need to know about the Portuguese boss.

by James Freemantle

28-05-2024 08:43

in Premier Soccer League

Alexandre Santos in a CAF Champions League press conference for Petro de Luanda. Image: @petro_de_luanda/ X

Will Alexandre Santos be the next Kaizer Chiefs manager? Here’s all you need to know about the Portuguese boss with big African accolades.

Who is Kaizer Chiefs manager target Alexandre Santos?

47-year-old Portuguese manager Alexandre Santos has vast experience in Africa and Europe. He’s won two league titles with Petro de Luanda in Angola and is on the brink of a third. Just one more win from their remaining two league outings will seal the deal. Santos has steered the relative minnows to CAF Champions League semi-final appearances in the last two seasons, displaying his acumen on the continental stage against the best sides. Before moving to Angola, Santos worked all over Europe, Asia and North Africa as an assistant coach at some huge clubs. His CV includes experience at Braga, Benni McCarthy’s old club FC Porto, and 14-time CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly. He’s also had stints in the United Arab Emirates and France. This guy has been around the block a few times but is still young in the life of a manager.

Kaizer Chiefs Alexandre Santos — Alexandre Santos trains Petro de Luanda. Image: @fiagoluanda/X

Alex Santos’ managerial CV

Petro Luanda – manager
FC Alverca – manager
SM Caen – assistant manager
Sporting CP U23 – manager
Estoril Praia U23 – manager
Real SC – manager
Sharjah FC – assistant manager
SC Braga – assistant manager
FC Porto – assistant manager
Al Ahly – assistant manager
Al-Wahda FC – assistant manager
SC Braga – assistant manager
Saudi Arabia – assistant manager
Vitória Setúbal FC – conditioning coach
CF Estrela – assistant manager
Estoril Praia – conditioning coach
FC Alverca U19 – manager.

KAIZER CHIEFS NEW MANAGER: WHAT WE KNOW

TS Galaxy boss Sead Ramovic is the latest man to rule himself out of the running despite stating that Chiefs “are the most beautiful club in SA” last week. Jose Peseiro, Alexandre Gallo and Manqoba Mngqithi have also been tenuously linked to the role, but nothing materialised. According to the newest reports, a meeting at Kaizer Chiefs has determined Pitso Mosimane and Alexandre Santos to be the final names in the hat.

“To tell you the truth, there are many meetings going on now at the club concerning the coaches. But the latest is that the likelihood of Pitso Mosimane and Alexandre Santos will be one of the coaches,” a source told Soccer Laduma.

PITSO MOSIMANE IS RELEGATED WITH ABHA

In another relevant twist, Pitso couldn’t save Abha from Saudi Pro League relegation after rock-bottom Al Hazm defeated them on the final day of the season. Jingles won’t be signing a new deal with Abha, but that’s no guarantee he’ll be available to manager Amakhosi. Does this make Santos the favourite?