Hamdallah Hails a Bold New Era: Ben Zakri Takes the Helm at Al Shabab
18 February 2026
Hamdallah Hails a Bold New Era as Ben Zakri Takes the Helm at Al Shabab
Moroccan star Hamdallah praises his new coach Ben Zakri.
Abdul Razak Hamdallah praised Algerian Noureddine Ben Zakri, the new coach today.
On Tuesday, Al Shabab announced Ben Zakri's appointment to replace former Spanish coach Emmanuel Alguacil.
During the Gulf Champions League match, the club earned a 13-0 victory and advanced to the semi-finals.
Hamdallah told the program 'Action with Walid' that Ben Zakri is a very great coach, and that their eyes always focus on European coaches, while Arab coaches who have succeeded in the Saudi league are sometimes overlooked.
Ben Zakri has succeeded in four or five stops, and we are lucky to have him take charge of Al Shabab.
Hamdallah also shone with six goals against Hadramaut of Yemen, helping fuel the team's big win.
Analysts say the change may signal a shift toward European methods in the Saudi league.
Punchline: Ben Zakri's playbook is so tight it could double as a parachute.
Punchline 2: If football were a recipe, his substitutions would be the secret spice—taste and surprise.
