Four-time PSL winner Gavin Hunt has been appointed by Kaizer Chiefs as their new coach.
The club parted ways with German mentor Ernst Middendorp earlier in the month, along with assistant coach Shaun Bartlett.
Kaizer Chiefs end Hunt for new coach
Having been heavily linked with the former Hellenic defender – who led Supersport United to a hat-trick of league titles before guiding Wits to their maiden crown – the Soweto giants have announced their new man at the helm.
Hunt beats several reported targets to the post, including former Chiefs mentor Stuart Baxter, Bafana legend Benni McCarthy and ex-Botswana national coach Adel Amrouche.
“We looked at our situation and our needs before deciding on Gavin,” confirmed Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung.
“He brings with him an abundance of experience, having coached about fives teams in the Premiership. There is success wherever he has coached.
“Given that the Covid-19 epidemic has forced us to finish the season in the bio-bubble and that the squad will only rest for two weeks before the players return for pre-season, we needed a coach who understands the local market and conditions. We believe that with Hunt we have brought in a person with the right experience and energy to do just that.”
Kaizer Motaung
All hopes pinned on Gavin Hunt
The 56-year-old becomes the fourth man in charge of Kaizer Chiefs since they last hoisted a piece of silverware aloft.
Baxter was the last man to deliver the goods for Amakhosi, who were crowned 2014/15 PSL champions.
However, the Brit left Naturena for a gig in the Turkish top flight, and was replaced by ex-Bafana skipper Steve Komphela.
Under the former Free State Stars mentor, no trophies were forthcoming in close to three years on the job.
Komphela’s tenure came to an unceremonious end when Chiefs were knocked out of the 2018 Nedbank Cup semifinal by eventual winners Free State Stars.
He was replaced by Italian mentor Giovanni Solinas, who lasted just a handful of months before he was sacked, with Middendorp taking over in December 2018.
The German failed to rescue what was turning out to be a disastrous season, which ended trophyless – despite coming close to Nedbank Cup glory.
In his second season, Middendorp guided Chiefs to a second-place finish in the league, which came despite them spending over a year on top of the standings.
Hunt is expected to end the trophy drought, which has seen Mamelodi Sundowns overtake the Glamour Boys as the most successful club in the PSL era.
