Al Ittihad Terminates Contract of Coach Nuno Espirito Santo
Al Ittihad, the Saudi Pro League side, has decided to terminate the contract of coach Nuno Espirito Santo following their recent 2-0 loss to Iraqi club Al Quwa Al Jawiya in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League. This defeat marks their fifth loss in all competitions this season. Espirito Santo, who has previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaves Al Ittihad after 16 months in charge.
Assistant Coach Takes Charge Temporarily
In a statement, Al Ittihad announced that assistant coach Hassan Khalifa will assume the role of interim coach until a new coach is hired. The club expressed their gratitude to Espirito Santo for his contributions during his tenure and wished him success in his future endeavors.
Espirito Santo’s Achievements
Espirito Santo led Al Ittihad in 52 games, winning the Saudi Super Cup and Saudi Arabian Championship during his first season in the Middle East. However, the recent string of defeats led to the decision to part ways with the Portuguese coach.
Denial of Feud Rumors
In August, Espirito Santo dismissed rumors of a feud between himself and striker Karim Benzema. He clarified that their relationship was not strained and labeled the reports as baseless.
Upcoming Match
Al Ittihad, currently ranked sixth in the Saudi Pro League, is set to face Abha in their next match on Friday.
(Photo: Getty Images)