Conceicao’s Next Challenge? A Storied Portuguese Coach Weighs In on Al-Ittihad's Coaching Job
2 octobre 2025
A Storied Career
Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, the former Milan manager, has signaled his openness to taking the helm at Al-Ittihad in the near future as the club seeks a successor after Laurent Blanc’s recent departure.
The Red Wave have been in negotiations with several coaches, aiming to identify a replacement and begin a new chapter for the Saudi giants.
Among the names circulating, Conceicao emerged early as a top candidate on Al-Ittihad’s coaching shortlist, with reports suggesting he could be the breakthrough hire they need.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano stated on X that Conceicao has opened the door to leading the Tigers, and discussions are continuing to finalize an agreement that would install him as the team’s next manager.
Romano stressed that conversations are ongoing to formalize a deal, aiming to appoint Conceicao as Al-Ittihad’s head coach in the near term.
The Milan Chapter
Conceicao’s coaching background is both long and varied, spanning roughly 15 years as a manager after starting as an assistant at Standard Liege in 2010-2011 before taking charge of Olhanense in 2012.
He later had brief spells with Coimbra, Braga, and Vitória de Guimarães in Portugal, and in 2017 he left Portugal for Nantes in France, where he stayed for one season before moving on.
His most prominent period came with Porto, where he stayed for seven years from 2017 to 2024, guiding the team to 11 trophies across competitions and delivering a striking competitive record.
During his Porto tenure, Conceicao oversaw 368 matches across all competitions, winning 265, drawing 48, and losing 55, while the squad scored 803 and conceded 317 goals.
He was recognized multiple times as one of Portugal’s top coaches, earning league and monthly awards and leaving Porto in 2024 after extending his contract to 2028 before his departure.
The next chapter of his journey saw him taking the reins at Milan in late 2024, where he guided the team to the Italian Super Cup title—his lone major trophy outside Porto—before a late-season run that included a loss in the Italain Cup final and an eighth-place league finish.
Coaching Prospects for Al-Ittihad
With Blanc’s exit, Al-Ittihad’s leadership has been linked with several high-profile names, including Jürgen Klopp and Xavi, while other candidates such as Luciano Spalletti, Santiago Solari, and Mark van Bommel have also been mentioned in circles following the club’s search.
The choice is expected to be finalized during the current international break, extending into mid-October, as the club looks to set a decisive course for its upcoming season alongside a demanding Saudi Pro League calendar.
If Conceicao signs, it would mark a dramatic shift for Al-Ittihad, reflecting a bold strategic move to pair a veteran of European football with a club intent on competing at the highest level in Asia and globally.
Conceicao’s potential arrival would also symbolize the growing trend of European coaches moving to the Saudi league, a development that keeps fans guessing and boardrooms busy—and yes, it might even confuse the calendar a little more than a football match with a typo on the squad list.
In the meantime, the rumor mill continues to spin as clubs everywhere weigh the risks and rewards of adding a manager with Conceicao’s track record, and fans brace for what could be a defining era for Al-Ittihad.
Punchline time: If this deal goes through, Al-Ittihad might finally find a coach who can turn a jar of olives into a trophy—talk about pressure, but hey, at least the olives won’t get a red card.
Punchline 2: Conceicao’s calendar will be busier than a transfer window—at least the calendar can’t argue with him on the touchline about timekeeping, because it’s always running late anyway.
