Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Orlando Pirates F.C.
open-in-new
<p>Orlando Pirates Football Club, referred to as simply Pirates, is a South African professional <a href="/facts/Association_football/yttjeD0D">football</a> club based in <a href="/facts/Orlando,_Soweto/sauKcr2B">Orlando, Soweto</a> that plays in the top-tier system of <a href="/facts/Football_in_South_Africa/yJfMLf4d">Football in South Africa</a> known as <a href="/facts/South_African_Premier_Division/MgBav5KH">Betway Premiership</a>. The team plays its home matches at <a href="/facts/Orlando_Stadium/dLwqJsol">Orlando Stadium</a> in Soweto. </p><p>The club was founded in 1937 and was originally based in Orlando, Soweto. Orlando Pirates are the first club since the inception of the <a href="/facts/Premier_Soccer_League/0WPzKmTn">Premier Soccer League</a> in 1996 to have won three major trophies in a single season back to back, having won the domestic league <a href="/facts/ABSA_Premiership/MgBav5KH">ABSA Premiership</a>, the domestic cup <a href="/facts/Nedbank_Cup/Aoc5pDNl">Nedbank Cup</a> and the Top 8 Cup <a href="/facts/MTN_8/cKjPMs7k">MTN 8</a> during the ABSA Premiership 2010–11 season and domestic league ABSA Premiership, the League Cup <a href="/facts/Telkom_Knockout/yusFJd85">Telkom Knockout</a> and the Top 8 Cup MTN 8 during the ABSA Premiership 2011–12 season. They are one of only two South African teams with <a href="/facts/Mamelodi_Sundowns/o3XGytzE">Mamelodi Sundowns</a> to win the <a href="/facts/CAF_Champions_League/5L3XD3Y2">CAF Champions League</a>, which they won in 1995 and were runners up of <a href="/facts/2013_CAF_Champions_League/Fs10daKy">2013 CAF Champions League</a>. </p><p>They are also the runners-up of the 2015 and 2021–2022 <a href="/facts/CAF_Confederation_Cup/Knzejtgm">CAF Confederation Cup</a>. </p><p>In total Orlando Pirates have appeared in four <a href="/facts/Confederation_of_African_Football/wet3pxLh">Confederation of African Football</a> finals, that is more continental finals than any other <a href="/facts/Premier_Soccer_League/0WPzKmTn">Premier Soccer League</a> side. </p><p>The club has won nine league titles and 88 trophies in total including 10 South African cup trophies. </p><p>In 2024 they became the first team to win three consecutive <a href="/facts/MTN_8/cKjPMs7k">MTN 8</a> finals. </p>