Last season, Al-Nassr made the decision to undergo a managerial change. In September, Luis Castro was relieved of his duties following a string of poor performances, and Stefano Pioli stepped in as his replacement. However, the Italian coach was unable to elevate the team’s gameplay to a level competitive enough to contend for the Saudi Pro League title. Ultimately, the team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo finished in third place with a significant gap behind the newly crowned champions.
By mid-June, it became evident that Pioli would not continue as the head coach of the club based in Riyadh. The former AC Milan manager opted for a return to Serie A, where he secured a deal with Fiorentina. This development prompted Al-Nassr to begin the process of selecting a new head coach.
The identity of the next coach has not yet been confirmed, but several names are circulating in the media. According to Nicolo Schira, two candidates appear to be strong contenders for the role in the prominent Saudi club. The first is Jorge Jesus, who previously managed Al-Nassr’s league rivals, Al-Hilal. The Portuguese tactician was dismissed by his squad’s former league champions at the end of last season.
The second candidate is Sergio Conceicao, another Portuguese coach and a compatriot of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 50-year-old experienced a brief and unsuccessful stint with AC Milan, as the team under his guidance failed to qualify for European competitions. However, during his tenure, he managed to secure the Italian Super Cup, claiming victory in only his second game in charge of the Rossoneri.