Pioli quits as coach of Saudi side Al-Nassr
PARIS: Al-Nassr have parted company with their Italian coach Stefano Pioli, the Saudi side announced on Wednesday.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
No official reason was given for the split after only nine months in the post but Pioli's name has been linked with joining Fiorentina for a second spell in charge of the Serie A side.
Al Nassr Club Company informs that Mr Pioli and his Staff are no more the acting coaching staff of the first team.
We would like to thank Mr Pioli and his staff for their dedicated work during the past season. pic.twitter.com/U4aMzNWbUp
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) June 25, 2025
'Al-Nassr announce that Mr.Pioli and his staff no longer coach the first team,' Cristiano Ronaldo's club posted on social media.
'We would like to thank Mr.Pioli and his staff for their work last season,' added Al-Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Pro League.
Pioli, who guided AC Milan to the 2022 Serie A crown, only joined Al-Nassr in September 2024.
Prior to his near five-year stint at AC Milan, the 59-year-old coached several other Italian sides including Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Lazio and Bologna.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Delap makes his mark as Premier League clubs' hunt for strikers hots up
DUBAI: It was third time lucky for Chelsea's new striker Liam Delap — who arrived from Ipswich Town earlier this month — when he opened his account on Wednesday for the Blues in their 3-0 win over ES Tunis at the FIFA Club World Cup. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Following last Friday's 3-1 defeat at the hands of Flamengo, Enzo Maresca's team required a victory for a place in the knockout stages of a competition they won in 2022. The result never looked in doubt once defender Tosin Adarabioyo had given them the lead with a well-taken header. The advantage was doubled moments later as Delap scored his first Chelsea goal, collecting a pass from Enzo Fernandez before holding off one challenge, evading another and dispatching a low drive into the bottom corner. It was brilliant center-forward play, combining strength, skill and a killer instinct in front of goal. For any striker, their first goal at a new club, regardless of the competition or opposition, is an important milestone. It settles early nerves, eliminates any negative outside noise and helps to build a positive relationship with the fans, who enjoy nothing more than watching a new forward showcase his goalscoring capabilities. Delap, who confidently took the Chelsea No. 9 shirt after signing, had shown encouraging signs during his first two performances at the tournament. In their opening fixture, a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC, the 22-year-old came off the bench and made an instant impact, providing a superb cross which was converted by Fernandez to put the game to bed. He was then handed his first start against Flamengo and proved a handful for opposition defenders prior to his withdrawal shortly after the hour mark with his replacement, Nicolas Jackson, shown a red card for a reckless challenge just four minutes after coming on. With Jackson's one-match ban extended to two following a FIFA disciplinary committee review, Delap is likely to start once again when Chelsea face Benfica in the round of 16 on Saturday, providing the youngster with another opportunity to stake his claim. It is a summer transfer market in which many of the Premier League's biggest sides are on the hunt for strikers, and Chelsea appear to have stolen a march on their rivals. Had Arsenal invested in a proven goalscorer in the last couple of years, they could easily have won a title under Mikel Arteta's stewardship. The fact he was forced to use midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker during last season's run-in spoke volumes, and so the search goes on. Manchester United are yet to reap the rewards of their investment in Rasmus Hojlund who has struggled since moving to Old Trafford in 2023. The recent signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the probable arrival of Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo, suggest Ruben Amorim is far from satisfied with the output of his current attackers. Yet while both players are undoubtedly strong additions who will elevate the United forward line, they are not traditional center forwards. Premier League champions Liverpool, who are certainly not short of attacking options, are also thought to be hunting for a striker, with rumors of an audacious bid for Newcastle United's Alexander Isak continuing to persist. That particular deal will be a difficult one to pull off, but Arne Slot clearly views the position as an area which needs strengthening, particularly if Darwin Nunez departs. Of the strikers available on the market, many of the headlines have focused on Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. While both players are clearly talented, any transfers would naturally involve a huge financial outlay, which many clubs are now wary of given the implications of the Profit and Sustainability Rules. For Chelsea, the signing of Delap makes perfect sense. As well as being young and hungry, he boasts Premier League experience having scored 12 goals for relegated Ipswich last season. Additionally, the fact he has played under Maresca, and alongside Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia, in Manchester City's academy, ensures he should quickly adapt to the team's playing style. Under the Clearlake ownership model, Chelsea have been widely criticized for spending huge sums of money on players who have failed to justify their price tags, with a few notable exceptions. The acquisition of Delap for $41 million, however, might just prove to be the club's smartest business move yet.
Asharq Al-Awsat
10 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Anger Makes Messi More Dangerous, Says Miami Coach Mascherano Ahead of PSG Clash
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano believes Lionel Messi could channel his emotions into a standout performance against his former club Paris St Germain in Sunday's Club World Cup last-16 clash, suggesting the Argentine excels when he has a point to prove. Messi, who joined PSG in 2021 after leaving Barcelona, spent two seasons in France, winning two Ligue 1 titles but failing to secure a Champions League trophy. His spell at the club was marked by a strained relationship with their fans, with Messi later admitting he had been "unhappy" in Paris. "For us, it's better if Messi plays angry," Mascherano told ESPN. "He's one of those players who, when he has something stuck in his mind, gives a little extra." Mascherano was part of Barcelona's famous 6-1 comeback win over PSG in the 2017 Champions League last-16 when the Catalan side, who had lost the first leg 4-0 in Paris, were coached by PSG's current boss Luis Enrique. Several Miami players took part in that epic encounter, with Jordi Alba staying on the bench, but Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets all starting. Discussing the reunion with Luis Enrique, Mascherano said: "Luis Enrique is my friend, beyond having had him as a coach for three years. "We have a very beautiful relationship. It will be an honor to face one of the best coaches I had in my career."
Arab News
15 hours ago
- Arab News
Japan gifts Kendo equipment to Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee
RIYADH: Japan has gifted the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee with Kendo equipment as part of celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Formal diplomatic ties were first established on June 7, 1955, laying the foundations for a long-standing partnership. To mark the occasion, Japanese ambassador Yasunari Morino attended a handover ceremony on Wednesday at the Riyadh Olympic Training Center, where approximately 20 shinai (bamboo swords) and 10 complete sets of Kendo armor were officially donated to the SOPC. Morino expressed his hope the donation would help increase the popularity of Kendo in Saudi Arabia and provide more opportunities for young Saudi athletes to engage with Japanese martial arts. 'I was happy to join the Olympic Day event organized by the Olympic Committee with many people, young and senior, participating. I hope Saudi people will enjoy practicing various sports, including Japanese martial arts,' the ambassador told Arab News. Kendo, which translates as 'The Way of the Sword,' is a discipline rooted in samurai traditions and is practiced widely in Japan and around the world. The Kingdom's growing interest in Japanese martial arts reflects the deepening of cultural ties between the two nations, said the embassy. The donation was enabled by the generous support of the All Japan Kendo Federation. As well as promoting Kendo, it is hoped it will foster greater mutual understanding and cultural exchange through sports between Japan and Saudi Arabia. The ceremony was one of several initiatives organized by the Embassy of Japan throughout 2025 to commemorate the 70th anniversary. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka also marks the occasion. It is hoped the expo will help the Kingdom reach its goal of attracting 30,000 Japanese visitors annually in the lead up to Expo 2030, which is due to take place in Riyadh.
