Hidden Clause in Sérgio Conceição's Al-Ittihad Deal Sparks Winter Shake-Up

Hidden Clause and a Winter Shake-Up at Al-Ittihad

Saudi media outlets reported a surprising clause in coach Sérgio Conceição’s contract with Al-Ittihad, following his appointment to replace the Frenchman Laurent Blanc. The clause reportedly allows the club to terminate the deal unilaterally if the team does not finish among the top three in the Roshen Saudi Pro League this season.

Conceição was officially unveiled with a two-and-a-half-year contract and a comprehensive technical staff, including six assistants: Joao Costa, Siramana Dembele, Fabio Mora, two goalkeeping coaches Diamantino Vieiridio and Fedran Rongi, and performance analyst Eduardo Oliveira who will handle technical reports for the team.

The Portuguese coach told the management that he intends to strengthen the squad during the upcoming January window to address recent results that led to the change in leadership. His aim, he says, is to restore balance and implement his tactical philosophy on the field.

The club is expected to carry out wide changes in the winter market, potentially seeing departures and new arrivals as the new coaching staff evaluates the current squad and identifies players who can better execute Conceição’s demanding style of play.

The report also dropped a “bombshell” on the fitness front: Predrag Rajković, Al-Ittihad’s Serbian goalkeeper, suffered a right-thigh issue while away with his national team for World Cup 2026 qualifiers. The Serbian federation confirmed the problem, noting it was in the same region where he underwent surgery about four months earlier.

Rajković’s recent injury history has continuity in the memory of fans, as he previously missed time after picking up a thigh injury in a cup semi-final win in April, and only returned later in the season for league and cup duties. He then underwent surgery in the off-season and was sidelined for parts of the early campaign, before returning to action in September and experiencing a late-season spell that included a red card against a top opponent and a few more missed games.

On the positive side, the club confirmed the readiness of two Union players for the forthcoming match against Al-Fayha, signaling that Conceição is already shaping the squad’s preparation for top-flight duties in October. The game against Al-Fayha, set for Oct 17 on their home turf, will also mark Conceição’s first competitive appearance on the bench for Al-Ittihad under his new leadership.

Solid Opening Reputation

Beyond the immediate moves, Conceição is known for strong-start performances in his coaching career. Across seven opening matches with various clubs, he won four and lost three, with no draws. His debut spells started at Olhanense, where a loss to Marítimo opened his record, followed by a loss with Académica de Coimbra against Braga. His first win came with Braga against Boavista, then came success with Porto, Nantes, and Milan in later years. Milan’s recent opening arc included a famous 2-1 win over Juventus in the Italian Super Cup semifinal and a later 3-2 victory over Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, underscoring his aptitude for high-pressure starts.

As Conceição begins to implement his method at Al-Ittihad, all eyes will be on how quickly the team adapts, how the January window unfolds, and whether the top-three finish clause becomes a catalyst for a winter splurge or simply a reminder of the high stakes in the Saudi Pro League.

Punchline time: If his contract has a clause that says top three or else, I hope it also includes a clause that bans crushing spreadsheets and forces the club to buy good coffee for early-morning meetings. And if top three is the bar, maybe they’ll set an even bigger clause: top three and a winner’s shower, because apparently even coaches deserve a little celebration after navigating this winter maze.