Al-Ittihad Secures Sergio Conceicao to Replace Blanc

Al-Ittihad appoints Sergio Conceicao to replace Blanc

Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Pro League powerhouse, has reached a final agreement with Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao to take charge of the first team in the near future, the club announced.

The contract runs for two and a half seasons, with Conceicao stepping in to replace Laurent Blanc, who was dismissed after a run of disappointing results last weekend.

Blanc, who arrived in the summer of 2024 on a contract through June 2026, led the side across 46 matches in his first season, delivering 35 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses for a win rate around 76%.

Al-Ittihad had also endured a tough home run, with a 22-match unbeaten streak in Jeddah finally ended by a recent loss to Al Nassr, underscoring the need for a new voice at the helm.

Conceicao’s coaching journey spans more than 15 years. After retiring as a player, he began as an assistant at Standard Liege (2010-2011) before taking his first head coaching roles with Olhanense, Académica Coimbra, Sporting Braga and Vitória de Guimarães in Portugal, then moving abroad for new challenges.

In 2017 he took charge of Nantes in France, before a landmark spell at Porto from 2017 to 2024. With Porto he collected 11 titles from 12 possible across seven years, including three league titles, four domestic cups, three Super Cups and one League Cup.

Across 368 official Porto matches, Conceicao recorded 265 wins, 48 draws and 55 losses, with Porto scoring 803 goals and conceding 317. He earned multiple individual accolades, including monthly Best Coach in the Portuguese League several times and Best Coach of the Season in 2018, 2020 and 2022.

Porto era and a brief Milan stint

After leaving Porto, Conceicao joined Milan in December 2024. He steered the Rossoneri to the Italian Super Cup title after a dramatic win over Juventus, but the Coppa Italia bid fell short and the club finished eighth in Serie A. He was dismissed and replaced by Massimiliano Allegri.

In total, Conceicao oversaw 31 Milan games, recording 16 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses, with Milan scoring 50 and conceding 36 in those fixtures.

Old friendship, later rivalry

The Saudi Pro League will host a notable clash of minds between Conceicao and Jorge Jesus, his Portuguese contemporary who coaches Al Nassr. Their friendship dates back to 1995, when Jesus was starting his coaching career and Conceicao was a player; Jesus admired Conceicao’s abilities and encouraged a possible move, prompting Conceicao’s loan to a club abroad early in his career.

They later met 19 times on the field, with Jesus coming out on top seven times, Conceicao six times, and six draws. In cup competitions, Conceicao has twice outmaneuvered Jesus, including the 2020 Portuguese Super Cup, while Jesus has claimed two cup success of his own.

As the new chapter unfolds in the Saudi Pro League, Conceicao’s mix of European success and global exposure sets a tone for Al-Ittihad’s pursuit of domestic glory and continental ambition.

Punchlines to close with: 1) Between press conferences and training ground, Conceicao’s notebook will be sharper than any blade—consider the tactic knife. 2) If patience is a virtue, expect the bench to be blessed with a few long-range jokes and goals to match; the sniper is aiming for the net, not the punchline.