Newly-Appointed Spanish Coach Gives Hope to Struggling Kenyan Duo at Swedish Club AIK

Spanish coach Jose Riveiro is keen to start on a clean slate at Swedish side AIK, home to Kenyan players Stanley Wilson and Henry Meja.

Riveiro was confirmed as the new coach of the 12-time Swedish champions and he brings a wealth of experience that includes nurturing young players as well as winning trophies going by his most recent jobs.

The 50-year-old is best remembered for his three-year stint at South African giants Orlando Pirates, between July 2022 and May 2025, when he guided the club to five trophies and unearthed a number of young players, some of which have since secured lucrative moves abroad.

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Looking forward to his new job, Riveiro has given assurances to his new team that will excite Wilson and Meja, who have been peripheral figures since signing for the club.

“When you start a new project like this one you are just over the moon, you do not feel tired,” Riveiro told the club’s media when he arrived in Stockholm to begin his new job.

“You just want to arrive as soon as possible to get to know the people, meet people and soon as possible start to feel part of the project and for that, it is important to be here to get in touch with everyone around the club.”

The two Kenyan stars have struggled for opportunities at AIK, Wilson, making just three appearances for the club since signing from Kariobangi Sharks in September 2024, and returned from his loan at Enkoping SK last November, where he played nine matches.

Meja, meanwhile, signed for AIK from Tusker FC in 2022, and has spent most of his time out on loan, first at Norrby IF, and then AFC Eskilstuna, where he stayed from 2024 until November 2025, when the deal ended.

With the players hoping for a new lease of life under Riveiro, he has promised to give everyone a chance and hopefully help them win trophies.

“I hope that I can be a good leader for you, inspire you to get the best out of you as a football player and as human being as well,” the former Al Ahly coach said in his first address to the players.

“I can promise you that we are going to have fun together and let us see what we can share at the end of the season and in terms of achievements and trophies.”

AIK finished in a disappointing seventh place in the 2025 Allsvenskan (Swedish top flight) and are hoping that Riveiro can return them to their former glories with cup games coming up in February before the 2026 league kick off on April 5.