Cape Town – Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has revealed a close relationship with legendary former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger
Abdeslam Ouaddou has been a remarkable success since joining Orlando Pirates last season, leading the Sea Robbers to a domestic treble in his debut campaign at the club.
Now in his second stint, the Moroccan tactician continues to keep the Buccaneers firing on all cylinders. Despite falling short in the MTN8 final against Sundowns, the Buccaneers are playing some glorious football at the moment.
Ouaddou’s side are on the brink of qualifying for the CAF Champions League group stages, and they also hold the advantage over Sundowns in the league title race thanks to their game in hand.
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It’s going to be a busy run-in to December for the Bucs, but they’re taking a leaf out of a legendary English Premier League figure’s book to help them navigate the stiff competition.
Ouaddou using his close friend Wenger’s blueprint
Speaking after his side’s 1-0 win over African Stars in Gaborone, Ouaddou opened up about the machine working behind the scenes at Orlando Stadium, and revealed his close relationship with former Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger.
The former Fulham defender drew direct parallels between Pirates’ backroom setup and what he witnessed from Wenger in North London.
“𝕀𝕥’𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝔼𝕦𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖!” 🚨
Abdeslam Ouaddou says Orlando Pirates’ backroom setup mirrors what he saw under Arsène Wenger at Arsenal FC! 🏴☠️
The Bucs head coach praised his 19-man support team for using data & live tracking from the stands to protect players and guide sub decisions.
“In Pirates, we have 18 to 19 staff. It’s like in Europe.”
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— Mthokozisi Dube (@dube_mthoko) October 21, 2026
Ouaddou highlighted that Pirates operate with a massive technical and support staff of around 18 to 19 specialists, matching the standards set by Wenger during his time with the Gunners.
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“What is important in our club is we have around 18 to 19 people in the staff. It’s a lot. It’s like in Europe. If you go to Arsenal, I’m very close to Mr Wenger, and at the time when I had a visit there in Arsenal, I have seen he had 18 people in his staff. In Pirates, we have 18 to 19,” Ouaddou told FARPost.
So far, Ouaddou has taken charge of 59 matches at Orlando Pirates, winning 44, drawing nine and losing just six of them. He has already lifted the MTN8, Carling Knockout and Betway Premiership titles.
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