Al Hilal confirm Simone Inzaghi as new head coach following Inter exit
Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have appointed Simone Inzaghi as their head coach a day after his departure from the Champions League runners-up Inter.
The Italian has signed a two-year contract with the club and will be in charge for the Club World Cup in the United States, which starts on June 14. They begin their tournament against Real Madrid on June 18 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. They will also take on Mexican side Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg of Austria in the group stage.
Benvenuto, 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐳𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐢 🇮🇹💙 pic.twitter.com/olLFlhRQJ1
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) June 4, 2025
Al Hilal are the most successful club in the history of the Saudi Pro League with 19 titles, but they failed to successfully defend the trophy this season, finishing second in the table, eight points behind Al Ittihad.
The Riyadh-based club parted ways with Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus in May after their exit from the Asian Champions League and had been without a head coach since.
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It has been a turbulent season for Al Hilal, with their marquee player Neymar terminating his contract by mutual consent in February, having played only seven times since joining for £80million ($102m) in the summer of 2023.
Inzaghi began his coaching career at Lazio, where he spent five years and won the Coppa Italia in 2019.
He joined Inter in 2021 and went on to win everything there was to win domestically. Inter won the Serie A title in 2023-24 , the Coppa Italia twice and the Supercoppa Italiana three times. Inzaghi also led the team to Champions League final twice, falling short on both occasions.
The most recent defeat came against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, a 5-0 thrashing that resulted in the 49-year-old leaving the club two days later.
'The time has come for me to say goodbye to this club after four years, during which I have given everything,' he said upon his exit.
'I thank the shareholders for the trust that has never been lacking, and the president and his staff for their daily help and dialogue. On a difficult day like today I think it is right to reiterate this sense of gratitude also for the meeting that ended just now. We were sincere and decided together to end this magnificent journey.'
Inter are also participating in the Club World Cup and will take on Mexican side Monterrey, Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds and River Plate of Argentina in the group stage.
(Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images)
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