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.
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