New Chapter, Fresh Tactics: Conceição Takes the Helm at Al-Ittihad
9 October 2025
Arrival and Quick Takeover
Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição was named head coach of Al-Ittihad in Jeddah on a two-and-a-half-year contract, taking over from Laurent Blanc after a stretch of disappointing results.
He arrived in the city on Thursday to officially begin his duties, just hours after the club confirmed the appointment.
Shortly after landing, Conceição posted a brief message on Instagram expressing excitement for the new challenge and promising to “write a new story together” with hard work, ambition, and passion.
Contract Details
The club announced a contract running until 2028 and a six-man coaching staff to support the project.
Club president Fahd Sandi explained on social media that governance rules require the sports leadership to propose and present the names, and that there was no dispute between the sporting management and the club company.
Training for Conceição’s first session began amid several absences due to international duty and injuries, with some players unavailable for the start of his tenure.
The first official match under Conceição is scheduled for eight days later, in the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League, as the new era kicks into gear.
Coaching Career Highlights
Conceição’s coaching career spans more than 15 years. He began as an assistant at Standard Liege in 2010, then took the first head coaching role with Olhanense in 2012 before moving to clubs in Portugal such as Academica Coimbra, Sporting Braga, and Vitoria Guimaraes, with a short stint at Nantes in 2017.
His most notable tenure came with Porto, whom he led from 2017 to 2024. Across 368 matches, he won 265, drew 48, and lost 55, collecting 11 trophies—league titles, cups, and cups—while Porto amassed 803 goals for and 317 against, reflecting an attacking yet disciplined philosophy and a knack for developing young players into European stars.
Brief Milan Spell
After leaving Porto, Conceição joined AC Milan in December 2024, replacing Paolo Fonseca. He began with a strong start, winning the Italian Super Cup, but league form faltered, and Milan finished eighth after 31 games (16 wins, 5 draws, 10 defeats), ending his stint there early.
