Fatih Terim Edges Toward a Saudi Pro League Return with Ettifaq

The seasoned Turkish coach Fatih Terim is close to returning to the Saudi Pro League, this time with Al-Ettifaq, according to Saudi press reports.

According to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Terim is strongly tipped to replace Saad Al-Shehri as the club’s head coach.

The Ettifaq management is awaiting a sign-off from the Financial Sustainability Committee for Sports Clubs on the move to dismiss coach Saad Al-Shehri due to poor results.

Rumors place Terim in line to lead Ettifaq during the upcoming mid-season break, extending from November 25 to December 18, in preparation for the Arab Cup 2025 held in Qatar.

Weak Results

Ettifaq have struggled for results this season under Saad Al-Shehri, sitting 11th in the Saudi Pro League with 9 points from 8 matches.

In the run of form, Ettifaq began the campaign with a win over Al-Kholood, then drew 0-0 with Al-Ahli, followed by a heavy 4-1 defeat to Al-Taawoun.

In the fourth round, Ettifaq recovered somewhat with a 3-1 win over Damk, but then suffered a 5-0 drubbing by Al-Hilal. They went on to lose to Al-Fateh and then draw with Al-Hazm and Al-Shabab (2-2 and 1-1 respectively).

Their King’s Cup campaign ended with a penalty defeat to Al-Batin (4-2).

Preparation for Al-Fayha

As the team prepared for Saturday’s league clash with Al-Fayha, Ettifaq’s Friday training focused on tactical drills and set-piece plans ahead of the fixture.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Scottish defender Jack Hendry rejoined group training after returning from national duty, while Costa Rican Francisco Calvo was expected to join to complete the squad before facing Al-Fayha.

Meanwhile, Egyptian forward Ahmed Hassan Kouka’s readiness was uncertain after missing yesterday’s session due to some discomfort.

Head coach Saad Al-Shehri emphasized tactical shape and working on combinations the team planned to implement against Al-Fayha.

Saad Al-Shehri hopes to count on the fitness of Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum, Spanish Álvaro Medrán, Slovak Marek Rodák, Scottish Hendry, Calvo, and South African Moha Nkota, plus French striker Moussa Dembele to fuel a victory against Al-Fayha.

According to The Today newspaper, Saad Al-Shehri has decided to reinstate Moussa Dembele to lead Ettifaq’s attack in the Saudi Pro League match against Al-Fayha, with the newspaper stressing the Frenchman’s pivotal role this season.

It is noted that Ettifaq and Al-Fayha have met 14 times in the Saudi Pro League, with Ettifaq winning 6, Al-Fayha 2, and 6 draws. Ettifaq’s attack has scored 19 goals to Al-Fayha’s 12.

A Notable Career

Terim is viewed as a solid fit for Ettifaq, given his vast managerial experience amid a rough patch this season.

He began his coaching career in 1987 with Ankara Gücü, then moved on to Galatasaray and other Turkish clubs, and also led the Turkish national youth team as well as the senior squad at different times.

Terim has worked abroad with AC Milan and Fiorentina in Italy, and Panathinaikos in Greece. He also has Saudi familiarity, having coached Al-Shabab last season, guiding the team across 23 matches with 12 wins, 4 draws, and 7 losses, across competitions.

In a broader Saudi stint, Terim previously led Al-Shabab after a period with Panathinaikos and other roles in Turkey. He signed a six-month contract with Shabab in December last year for about $1.6 million, succeeding Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira, before moving on in July when a new coach was appointed at the club.

Terim’s Panathinaikos tenure ended in May of last year after six months in charge, recording 14 wins, 6 draws and 6 losses. The Turkish coach’s career has included roles with top Turkish clubs and a philosophy that resonates with Ettifaq’s ambitions.

He also served in a high-profile project at the Turkish national setup and has experience across Italy, Greece, and Saudi Arabia, positioning him as a veteran option for Ettifaq’s mid-season push.

In sum, Terim’s wealth of experience, coupled with Ettifaq’s needs, makes a move seem plausible as the club looks to sharpen its approach ahead of a pivotal phase in the season.

Humor break: If Terim turns this around, I’ll finally understand tactical formations better than my coffee machine understands steam—and that’s saying something. Punchline 2: If football were a smartphone, Terim would be the firmware update that actually fixes everything instead of just adding new icons.