Conceicao Sets Renewal Target as Al-Ittihad Plans a Title-Chasing Reboot

Tough Challenges

Press reports revealed tonight that Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, the manager of Al-Ittihad, has laid out the first requests to the club’s management about renewing the contracts of several stars in the near future.

Conceicao aims to build a strong squad starting from the upcoming winter transfer window to compete for all titles next season, especially after a dip in form since taking charge, following a disastrous start under the French coach Laurent Blanc.

A thorny issue

Looking at the Union’s roster, there are many stars whose contracts will expire in June, which pushed management to contact some of them about opening renewal talks.

At the top of these stars are Frenchman Karim Benzema, the captain, alongside his compatriot N’Golo Kanté, the midfielder and partner in the same engine room, and Brazilian Fabinho.

Also in the mix are Brazilian Danilo Pereira, in addition to the local forward duo Abdulrahman Al-Aboud and Abdulaziz Al-Beishi.

Conceicao’s request

According to the Saudi daily Al-Yom, Conceicao asked the management to reach out to Benzema and Pereira for renewal.

He wants to renew the contracts of the two players due to their importance for him, with Benzema bringing vast attacking experience and leadership on and off the pitch.

Danilo Pereira’s defensive and midfield capabilities, plus his leadership, are also highlighted as reasons for keeping him longer.

In the coming weeks, Al-Ittihad’s management is expected to open negotiations with the players’ agents to secure longer stays for both, as they are considered essential to the club’s project in the seasons ahead.

The image accompanying this report shows a high-profile clash in the King’s Cup, underscoring the scale of the battles ahead for a club aiming to reclaim top status.

It is also noted that Conceicao will present a detailed report to the club’s board, summarizing what he saw since his arrival and what he believes needs changing for sustained success.

The Portuguese coach did not merely watch games; he studied the inner workings of the club page by page, arriving at a conviction that the team requires some adjustments before the decisive phase of the season.

The forthcoming report is not just a technical document, but a road map for stability and progress. Conceicao started by following players in training and matches, then evaluated physical readiness, and examined how coordination across departments works to form a clear view that some elements require readjustment.

The team, while possessing strong components, needs reinforcements in certain positions that lack depth or the right profile for the playing style he intends to implement. He also touches on the physical side, noting variances in players’ readiness and the need to improve or adapt conditioning programs to sustain performance throughout the season.

He also highlights the administrative and technical setup inside the club, suggesting some measures may need acceleration or refinement because small details can make a big difference for a club the size of Al-Ittihad.

He focuses on players who have not yet added value and calls for a reassessment of their futures, whether through continued service or exiting during the next transfer window.

As usual, Conceicao will stress that these adjustments are not aimed at criticism but at belief that the squad can reach higher ceilings, and that the coming phase requires collective effort, clarity, and bold decision-making.

The report for him is not the end of a phase, but the start of a new path he envisions for Al-Ittihad to become stronger, more cohesive, and fully ready to achieve what the fans expect.

This is a complex journey, full of details, but also a major opportunity for the Portuguese coach to write a fresh chapter in the club’s history, a chapter titled the return of Al-Ittihad to the summit.

Challenging Trio

Conceicao enters his first season with Al-Ittihad knowing he did not join an ordinary club. The team carries a rich history, avid supporters, and a management eager to see the club back atop. From day one, he confronted three heavy challenges that define the season: the league, the King’s Cup, and the AFC Champions League.

From the outset, he understood that the league road is not paved with roses; the competition is fierce, and the big clubs invest heavily, with every point potentially deciding the title fate.

Al-Ittihad endured a difficult prior season, and fan pressure demands a return to the top. Therefore, the coach must fix many small details: defensive cohesion, finishing the chances, and stabilizing performance across the campaign. Patience is required, but in a club of this size, time is precious.

Then comes the King’s Cup, a knockout competition that leaves no room for error, where a single bad night can erase months of hard work. Conceicao understands this well and knows the club’s special relationship with this competition, approaching it with a careful mind, weighing every step and preparing the players for matches that require courage and concentration.

Winning the King’s Cup could be a turning point, providing a significant boost to the fans and administration alike.

The continental challenge, the AFC Champions League for the elite, is a completely different proposition, the competition that Al-Ittihad cherishes and wants to see the team compete at the highest level again.

Here the coach realizes that success is not only about playing well on the pitch but also about travel, pressure, and facing opponents with varied styles. The team needs a strong personality and a squad capable of competing under pressure; this is where the club’s ambition, the coach’s resolve, and the players’ willingness to push together are tested.

Among these three battles, Conceicao faces one of the toughest seasons of his coaching career, with potential injuries, a packed calendar, and a fan base hungry for gold. He is tasked with building a squad that does not merely compete but commands respect and reasserts Al-Ittihad’s former dominance.

It’s a complex journey, filled with details, but also a huge opportunity for the Portuguese to author a new chapter in the club’s story—an era defined by a renewed, stronger Al-Ittihad ready to reclaim the summit.