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

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 shake-up clearing the way for a new era at Naturena.

The Frenchman, who recently resigned as Technical Coach at the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), is now understood to be Chiefs’ preferred candidate after a round of discussions that also included Portuguese coach Alexandre Dos Santos.

Chiefs reset the bench

Chiefs have already drawn a firm line under last season’s setup. Co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef are out. Goalkeeper coach Ilyes Mzoughi and conditioning coach Majdi Safi have also departed, part of a broader restructuring after Amakhosi finished third in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership.

That clear-out has opened space. Not just for a new head coach, but for an entirely refreshed technical structure.

Within that search, FARPost understands that meetings have been held with both Da Cruz and Dos Santos. The process has not been rushed, but the direction is increasingly clear: all signs point towards Da Cruz as the man Chiefs want to lead their rebuild.

A familiar face at Naturena

This would not be a step into the unknown for either party.

Da Cruz previously worked within the Chiefs environment two years ago, before he took up his role in Morocco. He arrived then as assistant to Nasreddine Nabi, who was still wrapping up his tenure with AS FAR Rabat.

In that short spell, Da Cruz left a mark. His sessions were noted for structure, intensity and a sharp professionalism. Those who worked with him speak of a coach who brings order to the training ground and clarity to the dressing room.

That stint did more than just showcase his methods. It allowed both Da Cruz and Chiefs to get under each other’s skin, to understand the club’s long-term vision, its day-to-day demands, and the expectations that come with the badge. He left Naturena with a clear picture of the environment. Chiefs, in turn, left with a clear sense of the coach.

Now the timing has shifted in his favour. Information received by FARPost indicates that Da Cruz is open to taking charge at Naturena, should negotiations reach a successful conclusion.

New structure, new voices

The extensive overhaul of the technical department is designed to give Chiefs room to manoeuvre as they build a new coaching model for the coming season.

The club is believed to be weighing up a blend of international expertise and local knowledge, with the potential inclusion of South African coaches and support staff alongside the new head coach. Those talks are ongoing, and the final shape of the backroom team is still being pieced together.

What is clear is the urgency. Chiefs want the structure in place quickly, not drifting into pre-season with unanswered questions.

Clock ticking towards Germany

Preparations for the 2026/27 campaign are already gathering pace.

The squad will regroup on 22 June, a key date in the club’s calendar. By then, Chiefs are expected to have settled their coaching structure, allowing the new man and his team to take charge of pre-season from day one.

July brings a significant test: a pre-season training camp in Germany, where Amakhosi will face European opposition in a series of friendlies. For a new head coach, that tour will be more than conditioning and combinations. It will be a first real look at how his ideas translate against different styles and higher tempo.

Rebuild on and off the pitch

The reset does not stop on the touchline.

Chiefs have already moved in the transfer market. Thabo Moloisane has agreed to join following his exit from Stellenbosch FC, the first confirmed piece in a squad that is expected to change shape over the coming weeks.

More arrivals are on the horizon. So are exits. The club’s third-place finish last season provided a platform, but not a destination, and the current rebuild is aimed squarely at turning potential into trophies.

All that remains is the final decision in the dugout. If negotiations go as expected and Fernando Da Cruz walks back through the doors at Naturena, he will inherit a club stripped back, restless, and ready for a new identity.