Al Hilal part ways with Jorge Jesus, appoint Al Shalhoub as interim coach
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Al Hilal have officially announced the departure of Portuguese head coach Jorge Jesus following a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, marking the end of a tenure that started with promise but ended in disappointment after the team fell out of title contention. The decision was taken after a thorough review of recent performances, most notably the club's exit from the AFC Champions League Elite at the hands of domestic rivals Al Ahli. In a swift move, Al Hilal appointed former captain and club icon Mohammed Al Shalhoub as interim head coach for the remainder of the Saudi Pro League season — his first managerial role since retirement. Jesus initially joined Al Hilal in the summer of 2023 on a one-year contract. After guiding the team to a domestic treble — winning the league, King's Cup, and Super Cup during the 2023–24 season — he was rewarded with a one-year extension. Al Hilal began the current campaign on a high note, clinching the Saudi Super Cup by beating Al Ahli in the semi-final and archrivals Al Nassr in the final. The team also made a strong start in the league but began to unravel following a break in December for the Gulf Cup, in which the national team participated. Upon resumption, Al Hilal were eliminated from the King's Cup by Al Ittihad, sparking a series of poor results, including defeats to title challengers Al Ittihad, Al Nassr, and Al Ahli in the league, and a drop in form that left their title hopes in tatters. Despite early setbacks in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 against Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor, the team mounted a comeback in the second leg with strong fan support, only to later suffer a crushing quarter-final loss to Al Ahli. As fan frustration mounted, calls for Jesus' dismissal grew louder, citing the team's physical and tactical regression. However, the club's board initially stuck by their coach, renewing confidence in his leadership. The breaking point came with the AFC exit, prompting the final decision to part ways. Al Shalhoub, a lifelong servant of the club and one of the most decorated players in Al Hilal's history, now steps into the spotlight with the task of steadying the team in the remaining fixtures and preparing the squad for a potential managerial overhaul this summer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Cristiano Ronaldo Is Almost Certain He Won't Play at Club World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo says he's almost certain he will not be playing at the Club World Cup, dealing a blow to FIFA president Gianni Infantino's hopes of having one of soccer's biggest attractions at the tournament. The Portugal captain confirmed Saturday that he received 'quite a few' offers from participating clubs to play for them at the tournament starting June 14, but had decided against accepting any of them. 'Some things make sense to talk about, other things don't, and, as a person says, you can't take part in everything,' Ronaldo said. 'You have to think about the short, medium and long term. It's a decision practically made on my part not to go to the Club World Cup, but I've had quite a few invitations to go.' The 40-year-old soccer legend was speaking in Munich a day before Portugal's Nations League final against Spain. Infantino had suggested last month that Ronaldo, who is still contracted to Saudi team Al-Nassr until the end of June, could switch to one of the 32 clubs taking part in the Club World Cup because of a unique transfer window created for the tournament. Ronaldo did little to quell that speculation when he posted 'this chapter is over' after Al-Nassr's last Saudi Pro League game of the season. He was linked with several Club World Cup participants, including Brazil's Palmeiras. A switch to Al-Nassr's crosstown rival Al-Hilal – the one Saudi club that qualified – was also mooted as a potential solution to having Ronaldo play at the tournament, where his great rival Lionel Messi will be playing with Inter Miami. FIFA would have welcomed the boost that Ronaldo's presence could provide for ticket sales, though such a switch to a bitter local rival for a short period would be unthinkable for players in Europe's leagues. Ronaldo fired Portugal into the Nations League final on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over host nation Germany. His winning goal was his record-extending 137th for Portugal. If he plays Sunday, he will make his record-extending 221st national team appearance.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Ronaldo says he does not plan to play at Club World Cup in US
Al Nassr and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo said on Saturday he did not plan to play at the Club World Cup in the United States, despite being courted by clubs participating in the expanded 32-team tournament. Speculation over the 40-year-old's future intensified last month when FIFA President Gianni Infantino said discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the Club World Cup, despite Al Nassr failing to qualify. Al Nassr's sporting director Fernando Hierro said last month they were negotiating with Ronaldo over a contract extension but faced competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo himself added to the uncertainty after Al Nassr's season-ending match at Al-Fateh, posting on social media: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.' Asked about the possibility of signing for another club in the coming days in order to play at the Club World Cup later this month, Ronaldo told reporters: 'It's irrelevant, at the moment it doesn't make sense to talk about things other than the national team. 'There has been plenty of contact (from clubs), I see things that make sense, others that don't. You can't go to all of them (clubs), you have to think short, medium and long term. 'It's something that's practically decided on my part, which is not to go to the Club World Cup, but I've had plenty of invitations.' On Wednesday, Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal beat Germany 2-1 to go into the Nations League final, where they will face Spain. Many have labelled Sunday's final as a face-off between Ronaldo and 17-year-old Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal but the Portuguese forward said he did not see it as such. 'It's always been like that, whenever I've played football, whenever I've played a big game it's always been Cristiano against this one, against that one,' he said. 'It's been 20-something years and it's still the same, it doesn't keep me up at night anymore, it's a normal thing. They're completely different generations, a generation that's starting out, another that's finishing, which is my case.' 'In reality it's not like that, it's a team against a team. It will always be like that... What I want most is for Portugal to be at a good level, confident that things can go well, that we can play a great game and win against a very good team, possibly the best in the world.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi PIF Partners with FIFA for 2025 Club World Cup
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and world football association FIFA have announced PIF as an official partner of FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which will take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13. The partnership reflects the shared vision of FIFA and PIF to enable greater participation in sports by unlocking new opportunities, fostering innovation, and engaging fans around the world. With a focus on youth, the partnership will provide opportunities for young people, supporting FIFA in its efforts to engage and inspire at a grassroots level. The new FIFA Club World Cup 2025 marks a fresh chapter for professional club football on the global stage. It will feature 32 of the world's top football clubs, bringing together champions from all six FIFA confederations for a month-long tournament in 11 cities across the United States. Football is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia and globally. The Saudi public will follow the tournament, where Al-Hilal Club participates as a representative of the Asian continent. 'We are delighted to welcome PIF as a partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™,' said FIFA chief business officer Romy Gai. 'Together, we look forward to delivering a historic tournament that inspires and unites fans from around the world.' 'The partners of the first-ever 32-team FIFA Club World Cup believe in our vision to make football truly global. Their support of the tournament will not only be integral to its success but will underpin investment in supporting the development of club football everywhere,' Gai said. PIF head of corporate brand Mohammed AlSayyad said: 'PIF is creating a legacy of transformative impact in sports including through its partnerships, delivering positive and lasting results at every level, from players and fans to host communities.' 'PIF is at the forefront of growing football around the world following our CONCACAF partnership announced last year and our continued investment in football. We are unlocking opportunities to drive the growth of the sport around the world,' AlSayyad said. Football plays a crucial role in the ongoing transformation of Saudi Arabia, and as host of the FIFA World Cup 2034, reinforces the country's ambition to grow the game globally, create new opportunities for all, and extend its benefits in Saudi Arabia and every part of the world for generations to come. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 US host cities. The 63-match tournament will culminate with what promises to be a spectacular final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside of New York City, on July 13, when the FIFA club world champion will be crowned.
