After losing to Ronaldo, the Arab club immediately dismissed their head coach

Al-Ittihad club has officially announced the termination of head coach Laurent Blanc following a 0-2 defeat against Al-Nassr, the team where Cristiano Ronaldo plays, within the Saudi Pro League.

In a statement on social media platform X, Al-Ittihad said: “The club has officially ended the contract with the first team’s head coach Laurent Blanc along with the entire coaching staff.” The club also confirmed that they have started searching for “a new technical framework that matches the club’s ambitions.”

This decision surprised many fans because Laurent Blanc had only been leading Al-Ittihad since July last year and previously helped the team secure a double trophy last season, including the Saudi Pro League title and the King’s Cup. The 2024/25 season saw Al-Ittihad as a major force in Saudi football with a star-studded lineup featuring Benzema, Kante, and Fabinho.

However, the start of the new season was not smooth. Al-Ittihad was eliminated in the Saudi Super Cup semifinals after a 1-2 loss to Al-Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo. The rematch in the national league last Saturday further became the “last straw” when Al-Ittihad suffered another 0-2 defeat against the same opponent. In that match, Ronaldo scored directly with a well-timed header.

After this round, Al-Ittihad dropped to third place in the standings, three points behind Al-Nassr. Although the gap is not large, pressure from the management and fans quickly put Laurent Blanc’s position in jeopardy. Considering the high-profile signings and expectations to compete for the championship, the current results are unacceptable.

The dismissal of Blanc also shows that Al-Ittihad does not want to fall behind in the race against Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli, teams that are heavily investing and have many world-class stars. According to the club’s announcement, Hassan Khalifa will be appointed as the new head coach of the first team, and Ivan Carrasco will be selected as the coach for Al-Ittihad’s U21 team.

Laurent Blanc’s departure closes a chapter of just over one year filled with both achievements and pressures. Last season’s double trophies were not enough to protect him from the disappointing early results of the new season.

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