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Vipers joined KCCA FC, SC Villa and Express in the league of clubs that have won the Uganda Premier League and Uganda Cup double.
Alex Isabirye recently joined a distinguished class of the top five coaches who have won both the Uganda Premier League and Uganda Cup in a single season.
The coach who did that after being in charge of Vipers Sports Club for only 20 games broke the jinx to put the Venoms on the same table with SC Villa, Express and KCCA FC.
Even though his departure from the club was dogged by controversies that led to a bitter split, Isabirye will remain in the books of records as their first-ever coach to achieve the fete.
We look at the other five in a list that includes a former and current Uganda Cranes coach;
Polly Ouma: SC Villa - 1986
SC Villa, under new coach Polly Ouma and his assistant Timothy Ayiekoh, were almost invincible in 1986.
The Jogoos went on to win the league, then called the Uganda Super League with 49 points, 12 ahead of KCC FC, losing only one game in the 15-team setup.
Weeks later, they went on to win the Uganda Cup - their second after winning in 1983- after beating Tobacco 2-0 without conceding a goal in the tournament.
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12:04 - 15.07.2023
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Villa defended their league title in 1987 and reached the final of the cup but KCC denied them a double.
Geoff Hudson: SC Villa - 1988, 1989
By 1988, Villa had become a powerful force in the local scene and wanted to compete on the continent.
The club brought in Briton Geoff Hudson to oversee Ouma and Ayieko. The move rubbed Ouma the wrong way leading to his exit.
Hudson reorganized the team and went on to win a double in 1988 and 1989. He defended the league in 1990 but KCC beat Villa 3-0 in the cup to deny them their fourth double.
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11:03 - 14.07.2023
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Jimmy Muguwa: Express - 1995
Jimmy Muguwa led Express to their best season ever in 1995. The German-trained coach was appointed an assistant at the beginning of the 90s but waited until 1995 to assume full control.
During the year, Muguwa led the Red Eagles to the semifinal of the 1995 African Cup of Champions Clubs, losing to eventual winners Orlando Pirates.
The tears on the continent were replaced b joy at home when the club went on to win their first and only double up-to-date.
Express won the league with a 22-point gap ahead of their bitter rivals SC Villa and then beat Posta 2-0 in the Cup.
19:53 - 12.07.2023
FOOTBALL Alex Isabirye confirms quitting Vipers job after guiding them to their first double
Coach Alex isabirye has officially resigned from Vipers Sports Club after winning the club their first-ever double.
Paul Hasule: SC Villa - 1998 2000
The legendary Villa double-winning captain retired in 1993 and joined coaching as an assistant at the club for two years.
He returned under full charge in 1998 and won the Jogoos their fourth double. He won the league in the following year but lost to eventual winners Mbale Heroes in the semis.
He was not stopped at the start of the millennium as he sealed the fifth double before leaving. He remains the only player and coach who has won the double.
Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic: SC Villa - 2022
Perhaps the 2002 double was the sweetest for SC Villa as they pipped eternal rivals Express in the league and then beat them 2-1 in the Cup under the now-Uganda Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic.
The Serbian was launching his career in Africa. He won the CECAFA and retained the league in 2003 but the cup eluded him.
07:58 - 05.06.2023
OPINION Alex Isabirye's success at Vipers shows you don't need foreign coaches to win
Having beaten Vipers to win the Uganda Cup in 2022, Isabirye got the chance to coach a club that has whatever it needs to win and just lacked the technical lead to orchestrate that.
Mike Mutebi: KCCA - 2017
Mike Mutebi’s golden generation of young talents finally delivered to end KCCA’s quest to join the Salongo class.
The team won the league with a gap of six points ahead of runners-up SC Villa and then brushed a side Paidha Blacks Angel, in the final in Arua.
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Alex Isabirye – Vipers 2023
Alex Isabirye was called to Vipers at a time of distress. His abrupt departure from BUL FC was unprecedented, but it turned out to be a gamble that worked out for Vipers proprietor Lawrence Mulindwa as the coach beat SC Villa and KCCA on the last day.
He went further to beat Wakio Giants and Bright Stars to book a date with FUFA Big League side Police in the Uganda Cup final.
19:53 - 12.07.2023
FOOTBALL Alex Isabirye confirms quitting Vipers job after guiding them to their first double
Coach Alex isabirye has officially resigned from Vipers Sports Club after winning the club their first-ever double.
A goal by Milton Karisa was all that Isabirye needed to quench Mulindwa’s thirst and etch his name in the distinguished book of history-makers.
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