Latest news with #AlHilal
The National
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
New Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus: Without Cristiano Ronaldo, I would not be here
Al Nassr have confirmed the appointment of Jorge Jesus as manager less than three months after the Portuguese left their bitter Riyadh rivals Al Hilal. Jesus has signed a one-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club and will be linking up with veteran attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, who agreed a two-year extension with Nassr in June. And the 70-year has revealed that his countryman played a pivotal role in him becoming Nassr's new coach. "Without Cristiano Ronaldo, I certainly wouldn't be there," said Jesus. "The motivation is high. Al Nassr needs to win titles, just like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has always won everything at the clubs he's played for. "He hasn't won practically anything at this one yet, so I'll see if I can help him. We speak the same language, so it will be easy. I couldn't turn down the challenge Cristiano gave me. "I love being in Saudi Arabia; it's the country of the future, in football and beyond. We're delighted to return. I've always been very happy. I've always won, and now I'm going to try to do it again." He becomes the fifth Al Nassr coach since Ronaldo's arrival at the end of 2022 after Frenchman Rudi Garcia, Croatian Dinko Jelicic, countryman Luis Castro and Italy's Stefano Pioli. Previous coach Pioli's brief spell in charge ended last month with the Italian heading back to Serie A to take over as Fiorentina manager. Pioli, who was named Serie A coach of the year with AC Milan in 2022, could not guide Ronaldo and Nassr to the first major trophy of the Portuguese striker's spell in the kingdom and his reign lasted less than nine months after replacing Castro. "Thanks for everything," Ronaldo wrote in a message on social media following the news of Pioli's exit. The club would finish third in the SPL, 13 points behind champions Al Ittihad and five shy of second-placed Al Hilal, despite Ronaldo again finishing top of the scoring charts with 25 goals. Al Nassr's AFC Champions League Elite dreams were ended by Kawasaki Frontale at the semi-final stage, with the Japanese side winning 3-2 in Jeddah. Kawasaki would go on to lose against Nassr's SPL rivals Al Ahli in the final. Jesus, meanwhile, saw his second spell as Al Hilal coach come to an end after their reign as SPL champions was ended by Al Ittihad while they were knocked out of the Asian Champions League in the semi-finals 3-1 by eventual winners Al Ahli. They did triumph in the Saudi Super Cup against Al Nassr, though, despite Ronaldo putting his team into an early lead as Hilal roared back with goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Malcom either side of an Aleksandar Mitrovic double to seal a 4-1 battering. The 2023-24 season had been a record-breaking one for Jesus and Hilal as they secured a fourth SLP title in five years, as well as embarking on a remarkable run of 34 consecutive victories across all competitions. The streak was ended by UAE side Al Ain in the Asian Champions League last four with the Garden City club going on to win the competition. Hilal also won the King's Cup that season, again beating Nassr in the final via a penalty shoot-out, a loss that left Ronaldo in tears after the match. But Jesus could not repeat that success the following campaign and left Hilal by mutual consent, meaning he missed out on leading the team at the Fifa Club World Cup. The veteran coach had been linked with the Brazil job before the Selecao appointed Carlo Ancelotti, but instead returns to Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr. As well as Ronaldo, Jesus will have at his disposal the likes of former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, ex-Porto attacking midfielder Otavio and forward Sadio Mane, who won the Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Champions League with Liverpool. He has just lost the services of Colombian striker Jhon Duran who has moved to Turkish side Fenerbahce on a one-year loan. Duran scored 12 goals in 18 games after moving from English side Aston Villa in February in a deal worth up to $80 million.
Web Release
11 hours ago
- Business
- Web Release
PUMA and Al Hilal FC Launch New 2025/26 Season Kits
PUMA Middle East is proud to announce Al Hilal FC's official 2025/26 home and away kits, celebrating a shared legacy of triumph, passion, and national pride. Designed with purpose and detail, the kits pay tribute to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's rich heritage and reflect the unmatched spirit of Al Hilal — the most successful football club in Asia and Saudi Arabia, with an incredible 70 trophies to its name. Drawing inspiration from Al Hilal's rich history and the Kingdom's diverse landscapes, each element of the kit reflects the club's enduring legacy and deep connection with its loyal fanbase, affectionately known as the Blue Wave. From subtle design cues to bold visual statements, the kits embody the values of pride, perseverance, and excellence that define Al Hilal. The home kit draws from the heart of the Najd region, inspired by traditional mud-brick houses, a nod to the club's humble beginnings in a small, overlooked part of Riyadh, rising to become a national icon and continental powerhouse. The away kit captures the poetic journey of the moon, symbolizing Al Hilal's ever-evolving path. This celestial theme not only reflects the club's name — Al Hilal, meaning The Crescent but also beautifully aligns with our brand's vision through the power of storytelling in design. This launch follows the tremendous success of the Kid Super X Al Hilal kit, which became one of the top-selling items in PUMA stores globally. The new kits continue to represent the spirit of Saudi Arabia on the world stage. 'As Asian leaders, we're proud to grow globally while staying true to our roots. Our partnership with Al Hilal FC allows us to tell authentic Saudi stories through design, championing sport and culture on the world stage,' – Juhan Kuhlo, General Manager of PUMA Middle East We are very proud to continue working with PUMA to create pieces that allow us to share our history and legacy on a global scale. Our recent tournament was a clear example where, beyond the sporting results, we were able to represent our country through jerseys that became an unprecedented success. We hope that this new collection will receive a warm welcome from our amazing fan base– Esteve Calzada, CEO at Al Hilal FC The 25/26 Al Hilal FC home and away kits will be available at PUMA stores, on at official Al Hilal stores, Blu Store, and select retail partners across the region.
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Without Ronaldo's invitation, I wouldn't be here: Jorge Jesus on becoming Al Nassr head coach
Jorge Jesus has been appointed head coach of Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr Football Club, taking over the reins from Stefano Pioli. The Portuguese tactician has revealed that Ronaldo invited him to join the team. Jesus was previously with Al Nassr's Saudi Pro League rivals Al Hilal SFC for two seasons in what was his second stint with the Riyadh-based club. 'Without his invitation, I certainly wouldn't be there. The motivation will be great. I'm going to try to ensure that Al Nassr, which is one of the best clubs in Saudi Arabia, can win titles. Cristiano Ronaldo is a player who has always won everything he's played for. He hasn't won in Saudi Arabia yet. I'll see if I can help him,' Jesus told reporters. Jesus parted ways with Al Hilal following their AFC Champions League Elit️e 2024/25 semi-final exit but did enjoy success with the four-time Asian champions, guiding the club to a treble in the 2023/24 season where Al Hilal won the Saudi Pro League, King's Cup and Saudi Super Cup. The 70-year-old had previously coached Benfica and Sporting CP in Portugal as well as Flamengo in Brazil. At Al Nassr, Jesus will be working with Portuguese icon Ronaldo, who recently extended his contract until 2027. 'Bem-vindo (Welcome), Mister Jorge Jesus,' wrote Ronaldo on an Instagram Story. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in late 2022 following a high-profile exit from Manchester United, has been prolific in front of goal, scoring 93 times in 105 appearances across competitions. His move to Saudi Arabia marked a significant shift in global football, drawing international attention to the Saudi Pro League and setting the stage for a wave of star arrivals in the region.
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong sells out in hours, but Al-Hilal withdraw over tired players
Tickets for the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong, which could bring superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to the city, appear to have sold just hours after they went online. A check by the Post on Klook, the tournament's official ticket selling platform, showed that all tickets were listed as sold out at around 2pm on Tuesday. The Saudi Super is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from August 19 to 23 at Hong Kong Stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000. However, doubts have emerged over whether the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League runners-up Al-Hilal will feature in the tournament. Media reports have suggested the club, who were set to face Al-Qadisiyah in the semi-finals of the tournament, have pulled out, citing player fatigue following their run to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup. The Saudi Arabia Football Federation has yet to confirm the news, but is reportedly reviewing what actions will be taken against the club, including a 500,000 riyals (US$133,300) fine and a potential ban from the next edition.
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Darwin Nunez transfer gets green light from manager as Liverpool receive bid
Liverpool are expected to part ways with Darwin Nunez this summer with a number of clubs interested in signing the forward but the Reds may need to accept a loss Darwin Nunez is drawing keen interest and Liverpool have received a £52million bid from AC Milan, it's claimed. But the Reds have also received an approach from the Saudi Pro League for the forward who has scored 25 goals and recorded 16 assists in 95 Premier League appearances. Al Hilal are ready to turn towards the Uruguay international if their move to land Victor Osimhen fails this summer. New boss Simeone Inzaghi is said to have pushed his club to move for the ex-Benfica star, should a move for the Nigerian fail per reports in Riyadh. The Saudi Pro League side, who have already signed Theo Hernandez from Milan this summer, renewed their negotiations with Osimhen after seeing their first proposal rejected. Al Hilal managed to come to preliminary terms with Napoli before the Club World Cup. Osimhen rejected a deal worth €40m (£34.8m) annually on that occasion however. And that has left a move for Darwin, who looks set to depart Anfield, on the table. The Reds are said to be willing to accept a loss on their striker to allow him to leave for £70m - after signing him for £85m in 2022. READ MORE: Arne Slot could save Liverpool millions with 'top player' who left John Terry distraught It could be Italian side Napoli who yet offer the stiffest competition to Al Hilal for Darwin's signature. Antonio Conte's team have been persistently linked with the South American star. But reports in Saudi state that it's the Rossoneri who have made the latest offer to Liverpool. The forward, 26, scored in Liverpool's return to pre-season action against Preston. Darwin capitalised on an error from the opposition backline before firing past the goalkeeper as Arne Slot's team recorded a 3-1 win. Liverpool have been linked with a number of potential replacement's for the striker. The latest has seen the suggestion that discussions are underway over a possible transfer for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Frenchman's representatives have reportedly met with Liverpool chiefs in Paris. Mateta scored 14 goals for the Eagleas last season as the club found FA Cup success last season, Mateta has two years left on his contract and has previously been linked with a move to Manchester United. Amid speculation surrounding the Red Devils a fee in the region oof £40m to £50m was touted. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
