Zimbabwean football has lost one of its most accomplished and respected tacticians following the death of former Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints championship-winning coach Roy Barreto. He was 72.

Barreto died on Monday in Portugal, where he had been living with his wife, Fazi, after a prolonged illness.

The news was confirmed by his longtime friend, Illan Elkaim.

"I am gutted. Roy had been ill for a while and finally succumbed today," Elkaim said.

His passing marks the end of an era for Zimbabwean football, with Barreto leaving behind a coaching legacy that stretched across four decades and earned him recognition as one of the country's finest football minds.

Born in Zimbabwe, Barreto began his coaching journey in Mutare in the early 1980s before moving to Bulawayo, where he joined the Zimbabwe Saints technical bench.

His impact at Chikwata was immediate. He helped the club lift the Chibuku Trophy before guiding them to the 1988 league championship, ending Dynamos' dominance and establishing Zimbabwe Saints among the country's elite clubs.

In 1989, Barreto made the controversial move across Bulawayo's fierce football divide to join Highlanders, a decision that would usher in one of the club's most successful periods.

Under his stewardship, Bosso won a memorable league and cup double in 1990 before claiming the inaugural Premier Soccer League championship in 1993. His teams became renowned for their tactical discipline, attacking flair and ability to produce results in high-pressure encounters.

Barreto's coaching pedigree also earned him a place within Zimbabwe's celebrated "Dream Team" technical setup under the late Reinhard Fabisch, serving as assistant coach during the national team's unforgettable 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign that captured the imagination of the nation.

He later took charge of the Warriors as head coach between 1997 and 1998, further cementing his contribution to Zimbabwean football at the highest level.

His success was not confined to Zimbabwe.

Barreto enjoyed coaching stints in Namibia before moving to South Africa, where he worked with Free State Stars and later Orlando Pirates. During his spell with the Buccaneers, he was part of the technical team that won the South African Premiership title, further enhancing his reputation as one of Southern Africa's leading coaches.

Beyond the trophies, colleagues and former players remember Barreto as a meticulous tactician, an excellent man-manager and a mentor who believed in discipline, professionalism and developing young talent.

His influence extended to generations of footballers who passed through Zimbabwe Saints, Highlanders and the national team, many of whom credit him for shaping their careers both on and off the field.

As news of his death spread on Monday evening, tributes began pouring in across social media from supporters of Highlanders, Zimbabwe Saints and the wider football fraternity, with many describing him as one of the architects of modern Zimbabwean football and a coach whose achievements transcended club rivalries.

Football administrators are also expected to pay tribute to one of the country's most decorated coaches, whose career coincided with some of Zimbabwe football's greatest moments.

Barreto's achievements place him among an elite group of Zimbabwean coaches to have won league championships with multiple clubs while also serving the national team and succeeding beyond the country's borders.

Although he spent his retirement years in Portugal, his name remained synonymous with excellence in Zimbabwean football, particularly in Bulawayo, where he built championship-winning teams at both of the city's biggest clubs.

He is survived by his wife, Fazi, and two daughters, one based in England and the other in Ireland.

His death leaves Zimbabwean football poorer, but his remarkable legacy—as a tactician, mentor and winner—will continue to inspire generations of coaches and players long after the final whistle.