To this day, Ruud Krol is remembered for his incredible treble with Orlando Pirates, but the Dutchman has revealed how he never got to say goodbye to his players after the historic feat.
Krol's first two seasons with the Buccaneers did not come with any titles and, at times, supporters were losing patience. But in his third and final season, the Dutchman delivered a treble, winning the MTN8, Nedbank Cup and Absa Premiership (now DStv Premiership). In this interview with Soccer Laduma, he shares the good and the bad from his time with the Buccaneers.
How the move happened
I was working for Zamalek and we had a trip to Angola for the Champions League. Then I got a phone call before we traveled from Egypt to Angola, because we had to stop in Johannesburg. There was a phone call from Floyd Mbele. I spoke with him at the airport, before he had a stop of about seven or eight hours in Johannesburg. We had time and we met at a hotel at the airport and we spoke about what I was thinking and what kind of philosophy I have. We flew to Angola and on the way back, we stopped in Johannesburg, and then I met Mr (Irvin) Khoza and we came to an agreement. I only had a one-year contract at Zamalek and then after we won the Egyptian Cup, I wanted to have a new challenge. Pirates was there and that was a challenge, because they had not won anything for some years. I always like to have a big challenge and I came into a new culture and new country. I like the adventure. So that's how I started with Pirates.
My first day on the job
I don't remember much of my first day. I remember we had the Telkom (Charity Cup), with four teams competing on the day. We had a few friendly matches before that, so I got to know the players. So, in the Telkom, we played with two different teams (in the semi-final and final) and we won the cup.
Who was in the team
When I first arrived, I remember we had a striker from Zimbabwe (Ralph Matema). We had Moeneeb (Josephs), new from the time he spent about six months with Ajax Amsterdam. We had Happy Jele and the stopper from Lesotho (Lehlohonolo Seema). I had a competitive team when I arrived and they had to work hard and to adapt to a new system and a new way of playing and thinking. It was not easy for them, but they were open minded and they worked hard. It was a good first season and then we got new players. For example, we got Rooi (Mahamutsa). He was playing in the lower division and I told the club he is a player we could use. We tried to make Pirates better and better. We had Isaac Chansa. The struggle we had sometimes was the left back position. Lucky Lekgwathi played there sometimes and Happy Jele. But we had a good team and it was growing. We had Oupa (Manyisa) and (Andile) Jali.
Who was the captain and why
In that time, the captain was Lucky (Lekgwathi). He was one of the oldest players who had played for Pirates. We had a good relationship, but of course sometimes we had problems. But I am a coach who is direct and the players had to accept that and at times I was talking loud on the field because I would talk about the kind of mistakes one player makes and another one makes, so that the players can learn from each other's mistakes. In the beginning, it was a little bit new for them because I criticised the players on the field, in front of all the other players, and that was new for them. They accepted and understood what I want and that was good that they were open minded.
My assistant coach
Craig Rosslee was my assistant. He came from Ajax (Cape Town). He had been working as a head coach and he had to come to work as an assistant. That was different for him, but we had a good relationship and we worked well and we did everything for the team to get to a higher level. Sometimes you have arguments, which is normal in the technical staff, but of course the coach takes a decision and that's how it always happened.
The best thing about the job
I knew I always had to be on my toes to get the results. In the first season, we lost the championship because we had a lower goal average than SuperSport United. In the second season, we had that situation of the World Cup season and I missed a lot of players and that was a pity because we were also playing in Africa. We didn't have a stable team because we had four or five, or sometimes eight players, in the national team. But I never made a problem about that because I could understand what was happening.
The worst thing about the job
Look, I know what I did and I know what I could have done better. I had no regrets. Even after the team won the treble and I left, they kept my philosophy and you see that with a lot of teams in football, where a coach leaves and the team still has success in the first year, but the second year it becomes more difficult.
Any difficult conversations with the chairman
Yes, of course. He could say something and I could give my opinion. I don't keep my mouth shut. If I defend my philosophy, that is for sure. And that was not a problem at all.
Who picked the team?
Never involved. Of course, you can always discuss something, but I am the coach who works with the players every day and I know the best I can get out of my players. I can put somebody right wing and keep the other one out. It depends on what kind of team you have to play against. When I put Oupa at right back, everybody was saying 'What are you doing?'. But I knew he could play there.
My last day at the club
My last day was after winning the championship. I went for a holiday because I had to go with my daughter to America to university where she wanted to study. That was the priority after I left South Africa. They were saying the chairman wants to speak to me, but I know that after we lost against Chiefs in January 3-1, they signed the coach from Brazil (Julio Leal). I know that they thought I did not know that. But I kept my work going because I liked to finish well with the club and I did.
Last meeting with the players
I did not speak with the players. Because it (the season) was finished and it's a pity, of course. But sometimes I speak to them on the phone. But that's what happens in football sometimes where we go our separate ways.
