Exclusive Coach Flora says Al Diriyah will be one of Saudi Arabia's ‘most important clubs'

Al Arabiya

20-04-2025

When Al Diriyah came under the ownership of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) last June, it represented the first step of an exciting new journey for the Riyadh club.
Founded in 1976, Al Diriyah has historically achieved little success – consistently overshadowed through the decades by the Saudi capital's more established teams like Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Shabab and Al Riyadh.
But Al Diriyah is now firmly on an upward trajectory. Ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, resources were poured into the club to support its bid for promotion to the Saudi First Division – one step below the Saudi Pro League.
For more Saudi sports news, visit our dedicated page.
Experienced players including ex-Porto striker Moussa Marega and Cape Verde international Julio Tavares were signed, while Fabiano Flora was appointed as coach. The Portuguese tactician masterminded Al Kholood's unlikely ascent to the Pro League last season and this week, a year after that triumph, he also secured promotion for Al Diriyah.
A 1-0 victory over AlUla, another well-financed club in Saudi Arabia's third-tier, in the Second Division Final came courtesy of a single goal from top scorer Marega. The match, played at al-Awwal Park – the home of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, represented a significant milestone for Al Diriyah, which will now be aiming to follow in the footsteps of NEOM SC and achieve successive promotions.
If it succeeds, the celebration of the club's 50th anniversary next year could also coincide with its first ever appearance in the Saudi Pro League.
'Our performance was fantastic and a sign of the work that we did during the season,' Flora told Al Arabiya English two days after the Saudi Second Division final. 'These were two teams with very good players and we had a great atmosphere in Riyadh.
'I think we deserved our victory – we pressed from the start in terms of possession and we played a positive game. I am very happy and feel like we are building something special at this club.'
Opting to drop down the divisions to coach Al Diriyah may have seemed to many on the outside like a strange decision by Flora. But he insists the professionalism and ambition of the club matched his own – and persuaded him to move to Riyadh.
'Honestly it was simple for me,' Flora recalled. 'I listened to what Al Diriyah Club said and believed in this project. It is more than just a football club – we are just one part of this wider giga-project and it is an exciting time here.
'For me the future is clear and in the next two to three years I genuinely think Al Diriyah can be one of the most important clubs, not just in Saudi Arabia but in Asia.'
Flora had never coached in the Kingdom before last season but has demonstrated that he is an astute operator, able to work effectively with both local and foreign players. He is one of several Portuguese coaches impressing in Saudi Arabia, alongside the likes of Jorge Jesus (Al Hilal), Jose Gomes (Al Fateh), Pedro Emanuel (Al Fayha) and Nuno Almeida (Damac).
'Two consecutive promotions here in Saudi Arabia is not easy to accomplish but I think my staff and players worked very well,' Flora said. 'We basically had 25 new players at the start of the season and we had to build a strong, positive mentality.
'The way the players respond tactically is important too – they understand what we want from the games and follow the right principles. But the main thing is that they have a big-team mentality – they always believe they can, and will, win.
'We never lost focus and I honestly think the numbers that we posted this season will not be achieved in the next 10 or 20 years in this division.'
A record Saudi Second Division haul of 74 points from 30 games underlined Al Diriyah's superior quality, with Mali striker Marega one of the league's leading scorers – despite not always being in Flora's starting XI.
'Both Moussa and I had the same situation because as myself, coming a step further down the Saudi leagues,' Flora reflected. 'This is a guy who can play anywhere – he is a really professional guy and a humble person.
'My team in Portugal is Porto so I followed him a lot of games when he played there. He still has so much quality and even though he missed a few games he was Al Diriyah's top scorer. He is a leader whose big experience and confidence is very important to the team.'
Last month it was announced that Al Diriyah would appoint Dougie Freedman as its new sporting director. Freedman was previously in the same role at English Premier League side Crystal Palace, with the move further highlighting Al Diriyah's ambition to become one of the Kingdom's elite clubs.
Flora hasn't yet had the chance to meet with Freedman but he hopes to be part of the club's plans for the 2025-26 Saudi First Division season.
'When you get the sporting director with big experience, it means that the club has ambition but also that the sporting director believes in the club's project and wants to build something important here too,' Flora said.
'Beyond the sporting director, of course you need the coach and you need the players too. We can create a big team here and I hope that soon we will have time to put everything on the table and to think about the future.
'Right now I will just relax a little bit, and travel to Portugal to see my family. Then let's see the future. This season was really intense and unbelievable so I am looking forward to having this break and then we will see what happens.'
After leading Al Diriyah to only its second ever Saudi Second Division title, Flora would certainly like to continue his work and try to earn his second straight promotion with the club, and third in a row the Kingdom.
'When you promote teams consecutively it is not lucky – it's about working in a professional way. I know the league, I know the teams and I know 90 percent of the players we will face next season.
'I know what we need to do to get promoted again and though it is difficult we have to believe that we can do it. There is big pressure and big responsibility at Al Diriyah because there are some very important people supporting the club.
'But I am really confident we have only taken the first step in building a big future for Al Diriyah.'