Fernando Da Cruz Set to Become Kaizer Chiefs Head Coach for 2026/27

Fernando Da Cruz has moved to the front of the queue to become Kaizer Chiefs’ next head coach ahead of the 2026/27 season, with the club’s technical reset now in full swing.

The Frenchman, who recently resigned from his role as Technical Coach at the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has emerged as the preferred option after Chiefs held talks with him and Portuguese coach Alexandre Dos Santos. Discussions have taken place with both, but the momentum is clearly with Da Cruz.

Chiefs clear the decks

Third place in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership was not enough to save the current setup. Chiefs have already confirmed the exits of co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef, while goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi and conditioning coach Majdi Safi have also departed. It is not a tweak. It is a reset.

Those decisions form part of a broader restructuring of the technical team, designed to give Amakhosi room to build a fresh coaching structure before the new campaign.

Within that process, Da Cruz has re-entered the frame at Naturena.

A familiar face at Naturena

This would not be a blind appointment. Da Cruz knows Chiefs, and Chiefs know Da Cruz.

Two years ago, before his move to Morocco, he worked inside the club’s environment as assistant to Nasreddine Nabi, who was then completing his spell with AS FAR Rabat. During that stint, his methods did not go unnoticed. The structure of his sessions, the intensity he demanded, the level of professionalism around his work all left a strong impression on Chiefs’ hierarchy.

Those weeks together did more than just plug a gap on the training pitch. They allowed both parties to study each other up close. Da Cruz gained insight into Chiefs’ long-term vision and day-to-day operations; the club, in turn, saw how his ideas and personality fit within their football culture.

Now, with his chapter in Morocco closed, that familiarity has become a major asset.

Da Cruz open to the job

Information received by FARPost indicates that Da Cruz is open to taking the reins at Naturena if an agreement is reached. He is available, he knows the terrain, and the club’s current restructuring has created a clear runway for a new head coach to put his stamp on the side.

The overhaul of the technical department is expected to give Chiefs greater flexibility in shaping a modern, layered coaching setup. The club is believed to be looking at a model that blends an imported head coach with local assistants and support staff, though the final composition of the bench remains under discussion.

What is clear is that Chiefs want a staff built to last, not just to patch over one season.

Pre-season clock is ticking

Time, though, is not on their side.

Preparations for the new campaign are already gathering pace. Chiefs are scheduled to regroup on 22 June, with a crucial pre-season training camp in Germany set for July. There, Amakhosi will test themselves against European opposition in a series of friendlies, a key phase for installing new ideas and sharpening combinations.

The club expects to have its coaching structure finalised before those pre-season sessions intensify. Any delay risks a fragmented start to a season in which Chiefs cannot afford to stumble early again.

Rebuild extends to the squad

The reset is not confined to the bench. The playing squad is also under active renovation.

Thabo Moloisane has already agreed to join after leaving Stellenbosch FC, the first confirmed piece of business in what is expected to be a busy window. Further arrivals and exits are anticipated as Chiefs continue their rebuild for 2026/27, targeting a group capable of turning a top-three finish into a genuine title push.

The framework is being stripped back and rebuilt. The camp in Germany is looming. The squad is starting to change shape.

All that remains is the final call: will Kaizer Chiefs hand the keys to Fernando Da Cruz and let him lead the next phase of the Amakhosi revival?