Kaizer Chiefs: Ten Coaches, two Trophies — A Decade of Instability

Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs, one of South Africa’s most decorated football clubs, has endured a turbulent decade defined by coaching changes, unfulfilled promises, and a long-awaited but solitary trophy.

Over the past 10 years, the Amakhosi have rotated through 10 different head coaches, spanning five nationalities, yet only managed to secure a two silverware — latest the 2024/25 Nedbank Cup, under Tunisian tactician Nasreddine Nabi.

The Coaching Carousel

Chiefs’ struggles can be traced to an extraordinary turnover of managers, beginning with Stuart Baxter’s first tenure in 2012 and looping back to his short-lived second stint almost a decade later.

Timeline of Coaches (2012–2025):

• Stuart Baxter (Scotland) – July 2012 to June 2015
• Steve Komphela (South Africa) – June 2015 to April 2018
• Giovanni Solinas (Italy) – July 2018 to December 2018
• Ernst Middendorp (Germany) – December 2018 to September 2020
• Gavin Hunt (South Africa) – September 2020 to May 2021
• Stuart Baxter (Scotland) – June 2021 to April 2022
• Arthur Zwane (South Africa) – May 2022 to June 2023
• Molefi Ntseki (South Africa) – June 2023 to October 2023
• Cavin Johnson (South Africa) – October 2023 to June 2024
• Nasreddine Nabi (Tunisia) – July 2024 to September 2025

This revolving door of leadership left the squad unsettled, with tactical philosophies constantly shifting and long-term planning almost impossible.

One Trophy in a Decade

The Nedbank Cup triumph in 2025, delivered by Nabi, was a rare bright spot in an otherwise barren spell. Chiefs fans had waited nearly 10 years for silverware, their patience tested as rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates dominated both domestic and continental stages.

Despite the cup win, Nabi’s tenure was short-lived, ending abruptly in September 2025 after just over a year in charge — once again leaving the Soweto giants in transition.

Continental Standing

On the CAF 5-Year Ranking for the 2024/25 season, Chiefs find themselves in 30th place, a position that underlines their decline from being one of Africa’s most feared clubs.

Once continental finalists in 2021, the club’s inconsistent leadership and lack of stability has stunted progress, with fans and analysts calling for a long-term strategy instead of another quick fix.