Conceicao's Bold Hijack: Al-Ittihad's New Era Begins in Jeddah

The Announcement and the Shortlist

Saudi club Al-Ittihad has appointed Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao to lead the first team for two and a half seasons, replacing Laurent Blanc after a run of poor results domestically and in Asia.

The club’s president Fahd Sandi outlined the talks on X, emphasizing harmony between the sporting department and the club’s administration and denying any internal split. He noted that a seven-name shortlist was carefully evaluated by specialists, with the final choice falling on Conceicao as the best fit for the moment.

The decision followed Blanc’s exit after a season marked by defeats in key matches, including a Saudi Super Cup semi-final and a league classico loss, ending his tenure that began in summer 2024.

The new coach is set to arrive with a full staff, featuring Joao Costa and Siramana Dembele as assistants, Fabio Mora as coach, and Diamantino Figueiredo and Fidran Rongje to work with goalkeepers, under the leadership of Eduardo Oliveira as performance analyst.

Conceicao’s Career and What to Expect

Conceicao’s track record spans more than 15 years, starting after his playing days in 2010, including a defining period at Porto from 2017 to 2024 where he led the team to domestic and European success.

In Porto, he managed 368 matches, winning 265, drawing 48, and losing 55, lifting 11 trophies, including the league title three times and four Portuguese Cups, along with several super cups and a league cup.

His Porto side was renowned for attacking balance and defensive discipline, scoring 803 goals while conceding 317, a reflection of his philosophy and talent development that helped him nurture young players into European stars.

Shortly after leaving Porto, Conceicao joined Milan in December 2024, where he won the Italian Super Cup but struggled in the league, ending his tenure after 31 games (16 wins, 5 draws, 10 losses).

At Al-Ittihad, he will face a familiar rival, Jorge Jesus of Al-Nassr, in a long-standing Portuguese-legendary coaching rivalry dating back to 1995, with a history of 7 wins for Jesus vs 6 for Conceicao in head-to-head clashes, and multiple finals wins for Conceicao, including the 2020 Portuguese Super Cup.

The coach’s appointment signals a new chapter for Al-Ittihad as they aim to reassert themselves in the Saudi Pro League and Asian competitions, with a detailed plan and a staff ready to take on the expectations in Jeddah.

Humor corner: Expect the press conferences to be lively, and the dressing room to glow brighter than the Jeddah sun—Conceicao promises a team that presses harder than a sunburn in July. Also, if you can’t score, just hire Conceicao; he’ll turn a no-goal into a goal one way or another.