Kaizer Chiefs Nearing Appointment of Fernando Da Cruz as Head Coach

Kaizer Chiefs’ search for a new head coach has moved into a decisive phase, and all roads now appear to lead back to a familiar face: Fernando Da Cruz.

The Frenchman has emerged as the frontrunner to take charge at Naturena ahead of the 2026/27 season, with talks already held and momentum building behind his candidacy.

A reset at Naturena

Chiefs finished third in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership, a respectable return on paper but still short of the club’s towering expectations. The response has been ruthless.

Co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef have been shown the door. Goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi and conditioning coach Majdi Safi have also departed, part of a sweeping overhaul of the technical department designed to give the club a clean slate and a new direction.

Into that vacuum steps Da Cruz.

Chiefs have spoken to both Da Cruz and Portuguese coach Alexandre Dos Santos as they weigh up their options. Dos Santos remains in the frame, but the indications are clear: Da Cruz is the preferred choice as things stand.

A familiar figure with unfinished business

Da Cruz is not a stranger to Chiefs. Two years ago he worked inside the club’s structures as assistant to Nasreddine Nabi, who at the time was still wrapping up his duties with AS FAR Rabat.

That short spell left a mark.

Within the corridors of Naturena, Da Cruz is remembered for the structure of his sessions, the intensity he demanded and the professionalism that underpinned his work. Those weeks allowed both sides to size each other up properly. Chiefs got a close look at his methods; Da Cruz got a feel for the club’s long-term vision and day‑to‑day environment.

Since then, his profile has grown. He recently resigned from his position as Technical Coach at the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), freeing him up at precisely the moment Chiefs are rebuilding.

Crucially, information received by FARPost indicates that Da Cruz is open to taking the job if an agreement can be reached. The door is not just ajar – it is invitingly open.

Building a new technical spine

The shake-up behind the scenes is not cosmetic. With several key figures gone, Chiefs now have the flexibility to design a fresh technical structure around the new head coach.

The club is believed to be considering a blend of imported expertise and local knowledge, with South African coaches and support staff likely to be woven into the new setup. Discussions over the final composition of the bench are ongoing, but the intention is clear: a more modern, more coherent football department, anchored by a strong head coach.

Da Cruz, with his experience in Morocco and his understanding of Chiefs’ internal workings, fits that brief neatly.

Pre-season clock is ticking

Time, though, is not a luxury.

Chiefs’ squad is scheduled to regroup on 22 June. By then, the club expects to have its coaching structure in place, or at the very least close to finalised, before pre-season workloads intensify.

A significant block of that preparation will take place in Germany in July, where Chiefs are set for a training camp and a run of friendlies against European opposition. Those games will demand clarity: on playing style, on leadership, on who sets the tone from the touchline.

Every day without a confirmed head coach chips away at that preparation window. It sharpens the focus on getting Da Cruz – or an alternative – over the line quickly.

Rebuild on and off the pitch

The reconstruction is not confined to the dugout.

On the playing side, Chiefs have already moved to secure Thabo Moloisane after his exit from Stellenbosch FC, a first piece of incoming business in what is expected to be a busy window. More signings are anticipated, and with them, departures, as the club reshapes a squad tasked with closing the gap to the top.

The choice of head coach will dictate how that rebuild looks. Which profiles to target. How to use the existing core. What kind of football Amakhosi will play when the new season kicks off.

For now, all signs point towards Fernando Da Cruz being the man asked to answer those questions – and to turn Chiefs’ latest reset into something more than another promise of change.