Fenando Da Cruz has signed a two-year contract with an option to extend, as he is returning to Naturena for the second stint after serving on the Kaizer Chiefs’ technical team under coach Nasreddine Nabi. Many fans have been asking who Da Cruz is. What are his achievements? This article will go deeper in revealing the new man in charge of Amakhosi.
Who Is Fernando Da Cruz?
Da Cruz is a French-born coach with a Portuguese background. He has spent more than two decades working in a professional football structure. Unlike other coaches who made their reputations by high-profile playing careers, the 53-year-old has earned his stripes in football through coaching, youth development, and technical leadership.
The new Chiefs mentor holds a UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification available in European football. He has worked with clubs in France, Belgium, Morocco, and in South Africa with Amakhosi, as well as in national team football structures.
Fernando Da Cruz’s Coaching Experience
Many supporters are doubting the appointment of Da Cruz because they don’t know which clubs he has worked for before. The truth is that the French international has built an impressive coaching CV, as he has worked as a head coach of French club AFC Wasquehal and an assistant coach and technical staff member at French Ligue 1 side Lille OSC.
It didn’t stop there; the 53-year-old served as a technical coach for the Moroccan giants AS FAR Rabat and technical staff for Nabi’s technical team with Chiefs during the 2024/25 pre-season. He then left the Soweto giants to work as a technical director for the Royal Moroccan Football Federation before returning to the Chiefs as head coach ahead of the new campaign.
His career has focused not only on winning matches but also on working on developing and building a structure that will help teams to have a winning system by improving the players and academy and implementing modern football methodologies.
Previous Time at Kaizer Chiefs
Now arriving for the second time in Naturena as the head coach, Da Cruz shortly left the Chiefs before the start of the 2024/25 season because he was offered a technical director role by the Moroccan Football Federation, where he oversees development programmes.
He is not a stranger to the Glamour Boys family. He already understands the culture, expectation, and pressure that come with coaching such a big club with demanding fans.
Coaching Style
The Kaizer Chiefs project suits Da Cruz as the club is trying to bring back its glory days. He is a type of mentor who is capable of waking a sleeping giant, as he has done with AS FAR who reached last season’s CAF Champions League final. This is a coach who also believes in young players, which is good for the club’s development structure.
Type of Football
- Possession-based football.
- High pressing and quick ball recovery.
- Strong tactical discipline.
- Youth development.
- Building structured attacking play.
His style of play is maintaining possession while pressing aggressively when the team doesn’t have a ball which is a philosophy influenced by modern European coaching methods.
Fernando Da Cruz’s Coaching Record
The former Lille man has not won many major trophies in his coaching career, as he has been in technical leadership, an assistant coach, and in development roles. While at Lille, Da Cruz worked under the famous Argentine coach during Bielsa’s time at the club. When Bielsa departed in 2017, Da Cruz was part of the interim coaching staff that took charge of the first team.
Major Achievements
One of Da Cruz’s biggest achievements in his managerial career was when he led AS FAR Rabat to claim their first Moroccan Botola Pro league title after 15 years. During the 2022/23 season, his team recorded 30 wins, 12 draws, and only 7 defeats across all competitions, while also reaching the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals.
When he was in France with Lille Academy the 53-year-old played a huge role in developing players who helped the club to win Ligue 1 and ended up playing for big clubs in Europe. Those players were Eden Hazard, Lucas Digne, Nicolas Pepe, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Victor Osimhen.
What Fernando Da Cruz Said After Joining Kaizer Chiefs
After being appointed by the Chiefs, Da Cruz revealed that he is ready to instill a winning mentality, build a strong relationship with the players, and work together to deliver the success that supporters expect.
“I’m very happy to be here. The Club has always held a special place in my heart, and I’ve kept a close eye on its journey over the past two years,” the 53-year-old said on the club’s website.
“Kaizer Chiefs is a massive institution with passionate supporters and a proud history. My focus now is on building a strong connection with the players, instilling a winning mentality, and working together to achieve the success our fans deserve. The journey ahead will demand hard work and unity, but I’m confident we will rise to the challenge, he says.”
Coach Fernando da Cruz is now fully in the building, stepping into his role with clear intent, strong leadership, and a shared belief in what this team can become.
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) July 2, 2026
With the full technical team in place, the focus is clear. Every drill matters. Every detail counts. Every day is a… pic.twitter.com/fjj43n7VCD