Khalil Reflects on Co-Coaching Role at Kaizer Chiefs

Khalil Ben Youssef, the former coach of Kaizer Chiefs, disclosed insights about his experience with the co-coaching model during his tenure at the club. Youssef, alongside Cedric Kaze, was tasked with leading the team following the exit of former head coach Nasreddine Nabi at the end of the previous season. Under their leadership, Kaizer Chiefs reached the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup and achieved a commendable third place in the Betway Premiership, their highest league finish since 2020, securing a spot in the Confederation Cup for a consecutive season.

However, the two coaches parted ways with the club at the conclusion of the season, with reports indicating that both are set to assume different head coaching roles within the South African league. In an exclusive interview with Lorenz Köhler of iDiski Times, Youssef explained the dynamics of making decisions in situations requiring agreement between co-coaches.

"The idea of a co-coach, I didn’t know before," Youssef remarked. "For 15 years, I didn’t hear about co-coaches. There’s only the head coach and assistant coaches. I first encountered this while with AmaZulu; I saw it with coach Arthur Zwane. I started to ask questions because, in a two-coach setup, who makes the final call?"

After receiving the co-coaching role, Youssef recalled how they convened for a meeting shortly thereafter to clarify their working relationship. "Cedric suggested we meet to discuss how decisions would be made – he assured me that if any misunderstandings arose, my decision would be prioritized first."

Youssef described their collaboration throughout the season, emphasizing that they managed to maintain fluidity in their working relationship. They navigated game preparations, tactical discussions, and training regimens collectively and rarely encountered significant conflict. In instances of differing opinions, Youssef noted that he confidently held the final say.

He concluded by reflecting on the unusual nature of their co-coaching model, stating, "It’s not normal; here in South Africa, it’s usually head and assistant. One takes full responsibility. This was a team decision, though, and, even if we were to work together again, it would likely revert to one being an assistant rather than both being co-coaches."