Pablo Franco Martin Linked with Orlando Pirates Coaching Role After Saudi Exit

Former AmaZulu FC head coach Pablo Franco Martin has emerged as a potential contender for the Orlando Pirates top job following his recent departure from Saudi Arabian side Al-Faisaly. The Spanish tactician is reportedly in discussions with the Soweto giants as the club looks to bolster its technical team ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Franco Martin, who had a brief yet notable stint in the DStv Premiership during the 2023/24 campaign, parted ways with AmaZulu FC in September last year. Despite the short spell, his structured approach and tactical knowledge left a lasting impression on many within the South African football fraternity.

After his time in Mzansi, he took up a coaching role at Al-Faisaly, a club competing in Saudi Arabia’s second-tier league. Under his leadership, the team showed steady progress, prompting the club to offer him a contract extension with an improved salary package. However, the Spaniard declined the offer, opting instead to explore new challenges.

According to sources close to the situation, talks between Franco Martin and Orlando Pirates are already underway. An insider revealed that while the coach has received a formal offer from Pirates, he is one of several candidates being considered for the position. “There have been talks between Pablo Franco Martin and Orlando Pirates. An offer has been made but he is not the only coach the club is looking at and there are other candidates. He is very interested in the Pirates job, and he has since parted ways with the club he was coaching in Saudi Arabia despite being made an offer to increase his salary to renew his contract,” said the source.

Orlando Pirates, who have consistently competed at the highest level in both domestic and continental competitions, appear keen on finding a coach with a blend of local familiarity and international pedigree. Franco Martin fits that profile, bringing experience from Spain, Tanzania, and now the Middle East, in addition to his previous exposure to South African football.

While the Buccaneers have not made any official announcements, the speculation surrounding Franco Martin’s potential return to the PSL is gaining momentum. His name adds to an already buzzing list of off-season developments as clubs across the league gear up for what promises to be a fiercely competitive 2025/26 campaign.

For now, fans will have to wait and see whether the Spaniard will return to South African shores—this time at the helm of one of the continent’s most prestigious clubs.