Renard Breaks the Drought: Saudi Keeper Najjar Returns After 693 Days in Arab Cup Showdown

Overview

French coach Hervé Renard, head coach of the Saudi national team, ended the 693-day international absence of Al-Nassr goalkeeper Raghid Al-Najjar by including him for the third-place playoff against the United Arab Emirates at the Arab Cup 2025 in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia had bowed out of the title race with a 1-0 semi-final loss to Jordan on Monday, setting up a meeting with the UAE, who themselves were thrashed 3-0 by Morocco in the same round.

In the starting XI, Al-Najjar started in goal, replacing Nawaf Al-Qudidi, as Renard opted for a refreshed spine and some lively competition for the kept position.

This appearance marks Najjar's second international cap for Saudi Arabia and his first since January 25, 2024, when he debuted against Thailand in the Asia Cup group stage, a match that ended goalless.

That game was coached by former Italy boss Roberto Mancini, and for Najjar it has become something of an international “curse,” since he did not play again for the national team after that debut.

Since then, the 29-year-old keeper had been out of the international scene until Renard brought him back, ending the drought after 693 days of waiting for a return to duty with the Green.

Punchline 1: Renard's bench has more comebacks than a soap opera. Punchline 2: Najjar’s 693-day layoff proves patience is a goalkeeper’s best friend—and the calendar finally blinked at the whistle.