Historic Run: Inzaghi Sparks a Golden Era with Al Hilal
26 November 2025
The Italian coach Simone Inzaghi has sparked a fresh wave of enthusiasm as Al Hilal extends their winning streak this season, delivering a blend of disciplined defense and clinical finishing.
Al Hilal defeated Al Shorta of Iraq 4-0 on Tuesday at the Kingdom Arena in the fifth round of the Elite Asian Champions League, reaching 15 points and five straight wins to top the West Group.
Inzaghi now stands as the architect of the best ACL start by any Hilal side, surpassing earlier records set by others in 2022 and last season, while maintaining an unbeaten run across domestic and continental commitments.
The team’s only defeat under Inzaghi remains a 1-2 loss to Fluminense in the Club World Cup quarterfinal; since then, Hilal has played 16 matches with 14 wins and two draws, underscoring a remarkable revival.
Historical Run
With five straight wins, Inzaghi has etched his name in Hilal’s ACL history, becoming the first manager to open with five victories in the competition and surpassing Ramon Diaz (2022) and Jorge Jesus (last edition).
The run has also helped widen Hilal’s all-competition streaks, reinforcing the club’s status as a continental powerhouse.
So far, Inzaghi’s leadership has translated into a more cohesive team, with a robust defense and improved attacking sensibility that has left opponents wary.
Response to Critics
His responses to early criticisms were decisive, assembling a team that dominates both league and Asia’s premier tournament and turning pressure into performance on matchdays.
Locally, he has restored balance by sharpening the system, strengthening the spine, and giving players a clear framework that yields results and confidence for fans and management alike.
Continental success has followed thanks to smart selections, tactical flexibility, and calm under pressure, as Inzaghi guides Hilal toward a deep run in Asia while maintaining domestic form.
What Lies Ahead
Looking ahead, Al Hilal faces heavy fixtures that will shape the season’s trajectory in both domestic and continental fronts, demanding peak readiness and minimal errors.
Challenges include sustaining the league lead amid busy schedules and injuries, and navigating Asian fixtures with smart rotation and away-game management, avoiding avoidable mistakes that can kill momentum.
Ultimately, the team’s quality and experience put it on track to contend for titles, provided discipline in the small details that separate champions from runners-up.
And now for a couple of light lines to close: If football were a sniper, Inzaghi would never miss a target—except maybe the snack stand during extra time. And remember, in football as in comedy, timing is everything—his substitutions are the punchlines that land every time.
