José Riga Explained

José Riga
Birth Date:30 July 1957
Birth Place:Liège, Belgium
Position:Midfielder
Years1:1974–1985
Years2:1985–1989
Clubs2:JS Haccourt
Manageryears1:1991–1996
Managerclubs1:JS Haccourt
Manageryears2:1996–2000
Managerclubs2:Espanola Liège
Manageryears3:2000–2002
Managerclubs3:Visé
Manageryears4:2002–2003
Managerclubs4:Sprimont Comblain Sport
Manageryears5:2005–2008
Managerclubs5:Mons
Manageryears6:2011–2012
Managerclubs6:Standard Liège
Manageryears7:2014
Managerclubs7:Charlton Athletic
Manageryears8:2014
Managerclubs8:Blackpool
Manageryears9:2015
Managerclubs9:Standard Liège
Manageryears10:2015
Managerclubs10:Metz
Manageryears11:2016
Managerclubs11:Charlton Athletic
Manageryears12:2016–2017
Managerclubs12:Cercle Brugge
Manageryears13:2018
Managerclubs13:Club Africain
Manageryears14:2019–2022
Managerclubs14:Visé
Manageryears15:2022
Managerclubs15:JS Kabylie

José Riga (born 30 July 1957) is a Belgian football manager and former player.

Managerial career

Charlton Athletic

Riga was appointed manager of Charlton Athletic on 11 March 2014, one day after the sacking of Chris Powell, who had been dismissed when he and the club owner were unable to reach agreement over the long-term vision for the club. At the time Charlton were fourth from bottom of the Championship.[1] Riga was appointed the manager with a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season; the main task was to avoid relegation. This was achieved on 29 April 2014 following a 3-1 home win against Watford.[2]

Blackpool

On 3 June 2014, it was reported that Riga had agreed to a deal to become manager of Blackpool, and was set to start the following week.[3] The following day, club chairman Karl Oyston confirmed that there was a verbal agreement in place,[4] and on 11 June he was confirmed as the new manager.[5] Three weeks later, newspaper reports claimed that Riga was unsettled and ready to quit. Whilst the club and Riga did not comment, no coaching staff had been appointed and even though the club had just seven contracted players, no signings had been made. With so few players, no assistant or backroom staff appointed, and the squad due to report back on 30 June, Riga had to delay the start of pre-season training.[6]

On 9 July it was confirmed that, with still just eight players at the club, Riga had three backroom staff, all of whom had agreed to start working the previous week but had still not signed contracts.[7] Two days later it was stated that tensions were high at the club, and between Riga and Oyston.[8] On 17 July, having already cancelled a pre-season trip to Spain to focus on signings, it was claimed that Riga's future was even more uncertain following reports of a dispute with the chairman over transfer policy.[9] Two days later Blackpool played a friendly away against Northern League Division One side Penrith, fielding five triallists in the starting line-up with two more on the substitutes bench and with just six fit registered players, the rest of the match day squad was made up of youth team players. Riga was given a standing ovation by the Blackpool fans. Then after the match it was reported that when the media requested to speak with Riga, he had told his staff and players not to give any interviews.[10]

Having won only one of fifteen games in charge, Riga was sacked by Blackpool on 27 October 2014. He became the club's second shortest-serving manager in their history, behind Michael Appleton.[11]

Standard Liège

On 2 February 2015, Riga returned to Standard Liège in Belgium, where he was re-appointed manager following Ivan Vukomanović's departure.[12] He took charge of his first game four days later, winning 3–0 against Mouscron.[13] Towards the end of the season, he announced he would not be prolonging his contract. Slavoljub Muslin was announced as his successor on 5 June.[14]

Return to Charlton Athletic

On 14 January 2016, Riga was appointed head coach of Charlton Athletic for the second time. His first win came away at Rotherham United in a 4-1 victory. Following the relegation he left the club and was replaced by Russell Slade.

Cercle Brugge

Riga was appointed head coach at Cercle Brugge in the Belgian First Division B on 1 November 2016 but was sacked in October 2017.

URSL Visé

On 14 October 2019, Riga was appointed sporting director of URSL Visé.[15]

JS Kabylie

On 22 June 2022, Riga was appointed head coach of JS Kabylie.[16] On 6 September, he was sacked.[17]

Managerial statistics

TeamNatFromToRecord
PWDLWin %
MonsBelgium6 June 200528 January 2008
Standard LiègeBelgium28 June 201113 May 2012
Charlton AthleticEngland11 March 201427 May 2014
BlackpoolEngland11 June 201427 October 2014
Standard LiègeBelgium2 February 20155 June 2015
MetzFranceJune 2015December 2015
Charlton AthleticEnglandJanuary 20167 May 2016
Total

Notes and References

  1. News: José Riga appointed Charlton head coach after Chris Powell is sacked . The Guardian . 12 March 2014 . 2 May 2014.
  2. News: Charlton: Jose Riga uncertain on future . www.wharf.co.uk . 29 April 2014 . 2 May 2014 . Virtue, Rob . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150208024944/http://www.wharf.co.uk/2014/04/charlton-jose-riga-uncertain-o.html . 8 February 2015 .
  3. Web site: Watt. William. Pool agree Riga deal. Blackpool Gazette. 3 June 2014. 3 June 2014.
  4. Web site: Watt. William. Oyston: Riga signals fresh start for Blackpool. Blackpool Gazette. 4 June 2014. 4 June 2014.
  5. https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27664334 "Jose Riga: Blackpool confirm ex-Charlton Athletic boss as manager"
  6. Web site: Watt. William. More talk of Pool unrest. Blackpool Gazette. 1 July 2014. 30 June 2014.
  7. Web site: Watt. William. The coaches with no contracts. Blackpool Gazette. 12 July 2014. 9 July 2014.
  8. Web site: Watt. William. Midfielder returns in attempt to earn Pool contract. Blackpool Gazette. 12 July 2014. 11 July 2014.
  9. News: Jose Riga: Blackpool set to decide manager's future by Saturday. BBC Sport. 17 July 2014.
  10. Web site: Watt. Will. Riga's Bloomfield Road blackout. 24 July 2014. 21 July 2014.
  11. Web site: Jose Riga: Championship strugglers Blackpool sack manager . BBC Sport . 27 October 2014 . 27 October 2014.
  12. News: Dimitri . Eeckhaut . Riga volgt Vukomanovic bij Standard, Legear officieel terug . . 2 February 2015 . 8 February 2015 . nl.
  13. News: Le Standard de Riga enfonce le RMP et entre dans le Top 3 . . 6 February 2015 . 7 February 2015 . fr.
  14. News: Muslin: "Standard zal offensief voetbal brengen" . Muslin: "Standard will play attacking football" . sporza.be . 5 June 2015. nl.
  15. https://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/belgique/d3/detail_jose-riga-de-retour-a-vise-comme-manager?id=10341293 José Riga de retour à Visé comme manager
  16. Web site: JS Kabylie: le Belge José Riga nouvel entraîneur (officiel). 22 June 2022 .
  17. Web site: JSK: José Riga limogé après 3 journées seulement. 7 September 2022 .