Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates' head coach Augusto Palacios will be replaced by Roger De Sa, the club announced on their website on Monday.

Pirates said Palacios had to step aside as a result of a persistent back problem that resulted in a week's hospitalisation last week.

De Sa's appointment was with immediate effect. He has 10 years' experience as a coach, having started his coaching career as a player-coach at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Irvin Khoza, chairperson of Orlando Pirates, said De Sa's experience would hold the club in good stead.

"Roger is a team player who has worked in various capacities for our senior and junior national teams, including being roped in to the technical team of the Portuguese national team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup," Khoza said.

"I have no doubt that he will find the new challenge at Orlando Pirates a worthwhile enhancement to his career."

De Sa believed his appointment as coach of the Soweto giants came at the right time.

"I had years ago contacted the chairman for this job, to no avail," De Sa said.

"When I got the chairman's call, I was obviously delighted as I believe I am up to the task at hand."

The club said Palacios would revert to his position in the club's development structures, with due consideration to his recovery, which was expected to take several months following major spinal surgery.