Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad have appointed Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição on a deal running until 2028, the club announced on Wednesday, confirming him as the replacement for Frenchman Laurent Blanc, who departed last month.
The announcement was made through a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), featuring the new coach introducing himself with a confident declaration:
“I am Sergio Conceição, I came to make history with Al-Ittihad.”
Blanc’s exit after Al-Nassr setback
Blanc’s exit came a day after Al-Ittihad’s 2-0 defeat to Al-Nassr in late September — a result that saw the defending champions slip to third place in the league standings. Following his departure, assistant coach Hassan Khalifa stepped in as interim manager, assisted by U21 coach Ivan Carrasco, to guide the team through the transition period.
From Milan to Jeddah: Conceição’s Next Chapter
Conceição arrives at Al-Ittihad following a turbulent spell at AC Milan, where he was dismissed on May 29 after a disappointing Serie A campaign that ended with the club finishing eighth, missing out on European competition for the first time since 2019.
Despite the setback, Conceição’s tenure at Milan did feature a highlight — winning the Italian Super Cup in only his second match in charge after joining the club in December 2024.
Now, the fiery Portuguese tactician takes on a new challenge in Saudi Arabia, tasked with reigniting Al-Ittihad’s title defence and re-establishing them as one of the region’s top clubs.