International sports newspapers and sites interacted with the departure of Portugal’s Nuno Santo from the First Al-litthad Football Team after his dismissal from office due to a decline in results in the Saudi Roshen League and the Asian Champions League.
Portuguese Santo’s dismissal came after he took over the task of coaching the Al-litthad for up to one and a half seasons beginning in the summer of 2022, during which he led him to be crowned Saudi Super Cup 2022, and to win the Saudi Professional Roshen League title during the 2022-2023 season after a nearly 13-year absence.
The Spanish network “Relevo” had earlier announced significant differences between Nuno Santo and French forward Karim Benzema and, especially after the loss to Iraqi Air Force “0-2” in the Asian Champions League.
Good Luck Nuno ⚫️🟡#ThankYouNuno pic.twitter.com/cMUKvftbKK
— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) November 7, 2023
International and Saudi newspapers indicated that the al-litthad places Zinedine Zidane at the top of the list of coaches nominated for its leadership at the Club World Cup, but stressed that signing with Zidane is an impossible dream for Saudi Arabia to provide a blank cheque but the French coach has not yet agreed.
The second option for the Saudi team is to sign French coach Laurent Blanc, after his latest trials with Lyon and his dismissal last September.
There are also those who oppose the idea of having Zidane in Al-litthad. Some Saudi media have discussed the idea of Al-litthad signing with France’s Zinedine Zidane and pointing out that Zidane is the head coach of the arguments and the Al-litthad has little time to hope for in the World Cup clubs scheduled to start in a month in Saudi Arabia.
Zidane would not be fit to lead Al-litthad, and contracting it was only a way of satisfying Benzema and Kante.
The Saudi club, World Club, will start on December 12 against New Zealand’s Auckland City.
Winner meets Ahli, December 15 in the second round leading up to the Club World Cup semi-final, where Brazil’s Fluminense awaits one of the three clubs.
