New Era, New Playbook: Conceicao Unveils His Philosophy at Al-Ittihad
10 October 2025
A New Philosophy
Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao unveiled his philosophy to Al-Ittihad players during the first meeting after officially taking charge.
Okaz reported that Conceicao led the training session ahead of the October 17 match with Al-Fayha in Roshn Saudi League's fifth round.
Before training, he spoke to the squad, urging cooperation, focus, and relentless effort, noting that football constantly demands more from everyone.
A Complex Start
He arrives with a long term contract through June 2028, a sign the club intends to build a stable project after a run of changes.
He brought a full technical staff of six assistants, including Joao Costa and Siramana Dembele, plus Fabio Mora, Diamantino Viegido, Fidran Rongi, and Eduardo Oliveira as performance analyst.
Early on, injuries and national duties loom, with Saad Al-Mousa, Saleh Al-Sheri, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud out, while others like Brid Rajkovic, Karlo Simic, and Mario Mita are tied to national teams.
In addition, Hossam Awwar and Mohand Al-Shanqiti are in rehab as Conceicao works to reassemble the squad and its identity.
Locally, Al-Ittihad started with three straight Roshn wins: 5-2 over Al-Odood, 4-2 vs Al-Fath, and 1-0 against Al-Najmah, before a 0-2 loss to Al-Nassr.
The season's early signs show a club navigating a difficult patch, with a big challenge ahead.
Between Joy and Contention
Conceicao posted a short Instagram message upon arriving in Jeddah: Time to launch a new project, together we will write a new story, always with hard work, ambition and passion.
Fahd Sindi, president of Al-Ittihad, outlined the contract's behind-the-scenes details, stressing there was no clash between the sports management and the club's executive team.
Sports director Ramon Planes noted that governance rules guide nominations and naming, with seven names evaluated before selecting the best fit at this stage.
When asked about potential targets like Klopp or Spalletti, the president declined to reveal names for confidentiality, and said a seven-name shortlist was carefully assessed.
Conceicao's approach blends realism and tactical vigor with obvious enthusiasm, and he usually wears it openly rather than donning a serious mask.
In victory, he can celebrate loudly—dancing to music or wearing sunglasses and a big cigar—an echo of his Porto and Milan days.
Yet his intensity also surfaces in anger, including a clash during a children's tournament where he was accused of assaulting a referee and a city guard, claims he denied.
The ex-Milan coach denied the charges and filed a lawsuit, saying he only asked the referee what happened, while the mayor oversold the incident.
Conceicao's early months in Jeddah promise a gripping ride—as the team juggles injuries, expectations, and a mission to forge a lasting identity.
Punchline: If coaching were stand up, Conceicao would headline every show with a sprint drill and a joke about a 6 pack of injuries.
Punchline: Al-Ittihad's fans may need patience, but at least the press conferences are guaranteed to be entertaining.
