Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad have appointed Portuguese manager Sérgio Conceição as their new head coach, replacing Frenchman Laurent Blanc, who was dismissed late last month following a poor run of results.

In a cinematic announcement video featuring a chessboard, the former AC Milan coach declared: “Victory is not a choice; it’s an identity that defines us. Rivals may change, allies may fall, but the king remains. I am Sérgio Conceição, and I’ve come to make history with Al Ittihad.”

Blanc’s departure came after back-to-back defeats, a 2-1 loss to UAE’s Al Wahda in the opening round of the AFC Champions League Elite and a 2-0 home defeat to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

Despite leading Ittihad to a domestic double last season — winning both the league and King’s Cup — his side had struggled to recapture that form this term.

Ittihad currently sit third in the Saudi Pro League table with nine points from four matches, three points behind leaders Al Nassr. Assistant coach Hassan Khalifa had been in interim charge pending the new appointment.

Club sporting director Ramón Planes described Blanc’s dismissal as “a painful but professional decision.”

Speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel, he said: “We respected the club’s procedures. I carried out my technical review and submitted reports to CEO Domingo Suárez, and after internal discussions, we agreed that a change was needed to bring new energy to the team.”

Planes added that the board expects Conceição to elevate the team’s physical intensity and overall tempo, particularly in high-pressure matches.

Conceição, 50, was most recently in charge of AC Milan, where he won the 2025 Italian Super Cup — the club’s first trophy since the 2022 Serie A title — but was dismissed in May after failing to secure Champions League qualification.

The former Porto boss previously guided the Portuguese giants to five league titles between 2017 and 2024, earning a reputation for his demanding style and strong dressing-room presence.

For Ittihad, the appointment signals both a reset and renewed ambition as they look to defend their domestic crown and reassert themselves in Asia.