“Pitso Mosimane will be taking over immediately. He has already been officially introduced the players and the staff at the club,” said Sundowns spokesperson Thulani Thuswa.
“Pitso is a very experienced coach and his record speaks volumes.”
Mosimane had been without a job since he was dismissed as head coach of the national team in June, after Bafana went seven straight games without a win.
Thuswa said Mosimane would take charge of the side’s league clash against Free State Stars in Phuthaditjhaba on Wednesday.
“He understands the culture of South African football, which made him the best candidate to take over.
“His first task will be leading the team in a league match against Free State Stars, so basically he will be hitting the ground running.”
The Brazilians, second from bottom in the league standings, lost 1-0 against Bloemfontein Celtic in the Telkom Knockout final in Durban on Saturday night — their second cup final defeat in seven months.
“The club president, Patrice Motsepe, praised him [Neeskens] for standing by the club even when times where tough.
“I mean, this is a coach that took the club to two cup finals — the Nedbank Cup and recently the Telkom Knockout. He has done his best in the 18 months that he has been with the club,” Thuswa said.
Neeskens had remained defiant after the Brazilians went down to Celtic, despite being under huge pressure to win the title and appease disgruntled supporters and his bosses.
“It is obviously disappointing, but this was a final where there is always a winner and a loser,” the Dutchman said, just hours before he was fired by the big-spending club.
“I think it will be difficult to lift this team to challenge for the [league] title, but to get away from where we are, I’m confident it’s going to work out.”
It had been reported that Neeskens had lost the support of his playing squad, but the Dutchman remained optimistic in his ability to change his side’s fortunes.
“We have enough quality to come out of this. Yes, we lost two finals in the last six or seven months, but it was also after a long couple of years that this club had even reached a final. That is also a positive.”
Neeskens had been castigated for some of his decision making over team selection, and there was further criticism when he opted to leave the experienced Anthony Laffor, one of his better players this season, on the bench on Saturday and instead started the final with the inexperienced Samuel Julies.
“I can understand that people are upset and frustrated, but those are the kinds of things that we as coaches have to be prepared for,” he said.
“I think if I had to ask all the fans who were in the stands to give me their line up, I’m going to get five thousand different line-ups.
“That is part of the job. I can only say that I give 100% for the club, I stand 100% behind my players. “I don’t blame them, and if there is someone to blame, then it is me because I selected the team.”
Mosimane was introduced to the press officially today.
