Latest news with #CristianoRonaldo
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pioli tells Fiorentina to get inspiration from Ronaldo and sends message to Allegri
New Fiorentina coach Stefano Pioli won't forget that Massimiliano Allegri omitted the Tuscans among the Champions League contenders and insists his players must get inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo. Pioli has returned to the Stadio Franchi for his second stint as a coach and was unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday. Pioli explains why he returned to Fiorentina 'The experiences I've had so far have brought me to the highest point of my career,' Pioli said via TMW. 'I know there are many expectations here, but I already have a great feeling because I've found a lot of human depth in addition to one of the most beautiful training centres I've ever seen. I feel ready to do an outstanding job.' Pioli was the Fiorentina coach when Davide Astori tragically died in his sleep on March 4, 2018, aged 31, before an away Serie A match against Udinese. Fiorentina still remember their former captain before each home match by announcing their ex-No.13 in their starting XI. 'Obviously, he had a significant impact on my professional and personal life,' said Pioli. 'I still feel him, and that will never change. If we manage to take the same step forward as a team, we can even win the Scudetto.' Pioli had reached an agreement with Fiorentina at the beginning of June, but it took him over a month to terminate his contract with Al-Hilal, where he had coached Cristiano Ronaldo. 'I've always wanted to come back. One phone call was enough. It was a month of anxiety, but still very positive,' Pioli said. Pioli: coaching Cristiano Ronaldo 'an honour 'It was an honour to coach him [Cristiano Ronaldo]. He's much more than a champion,' he continued. 'You have no idea what lies behind his figure. I shared his management with him. He's an incredible professional, and he's obsessed with playing and scoring goals. He lives each day to be ready for the next game. That's the kind of determination we need to have.' Pioli will coach Moise Kean in the 2025-26 season. The Italian striker was the second-best Serie A goal scorer in 2024-25, and his €52m release clause expired yesterday, July 15, 2025. 'I've spoken with Moise during this period, but I don't know whether I had an impact on his decision to stay. He's very grateful to Florence. I've seen him calm and eager to work these days. He's a very strong player,' he said. Edin Dzeko has moved to the Franchi, while Albert Gudmundsson has made his loan move permanent. Can Fiorentina use all three of their stars simultaneously? 'We won't always be the same, but the idea is to get them playing all together,' Pioli replied. 'Much will depend on their ability to work together. I'll repeat it, the more quality players we have, the more chances we have to win. 'We should not focus on just one role or position. Gudmundsson a player with quality, great intelligence and desire to make an impact. He offers many solutions in attack, and I count on him. Fazzini has similar traits. What matters is having players with quality, pace and unpredictability. Unpredictability is the key to beating opponents.' Pioli confirmed that Luca Ranieri would be Fiorentina's captain next season and seemed confident that the Tuscans would compete for a spot in the top four next season. 'It won't be Pioli against Allegri or Conte. It will be Fiorentina against Napoli, Milan and others,' he said. 'We have fire inside. I could have stayed where I was and been one of the ten highest-paid coaches in the world. If Fiorentina wants to be top, we need to prove it. Allegri didn't put us among the Champions League contenders. I've already written that on the board.' Pioli has signed a long-term contract at the Stadio Franchi, which will run until June 2028.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Cristiano Ronaldo wins Saudi Pro League fans' player of the season award
Al Nassr skipper Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Saudi pro League 2025/26 fans' player of the season award for his contributions throughout the campaign. The 40-year-old forward won man of the match award 15 times in 34 league appearances. The league took to social media to announce the news on Wednesday. Having been voted Man of the Match 15 times, @Cristiano is the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League Fans' Player of the Season 🌟🐐#FansChoiceAwards | @AlNassrFC_EN — Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) July 16, 2025 The Portuguese striker recently extended his stay at Al Nassr for two years. He has recorded 93 goals and 19 assists in 105 appearances across all competitions for the Saudi club, but is yet to win a league title. In the recently concluded season, Al Nassr finished third in the points table, missing out on a spot in next year's AFC Champions League Elite and instead will play in the AFC Champions League 2. Ronaldo also recently celebrated his third international title as Portugal defeated Spain to win the UEFA Nations League.
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Jorge Jesus on Al Nassr appointment: ‘Without Cristano Ronaldo's invitation, I wouldn't be there'
Jorge Jesus has said he would not have been appointed as new Al Nassr head coach without Cristiano Ronaldo's invitation. Portuguese coach Jesus, 70, has replaced Stefano Pioli as Al Nassr coach following last season's third-place Saudi Pro League (SPL) finish. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January 2023 and has scored 99 goals in 111 first-team appearances, but has not yet won the SPL title nor tasted success in the Asian Champions League. Advertisement Jesus, who departed the club's Riyadh rivals Al Hilal in May, has now said that Ronaldo was influential in his arrival at the club. 'Without his invitation, I wouldn't be there,' Jesus said, in quotes carried by A Bola. 'Ronaldo is a player who has always won everything wherever he's played, but not yet in Saudi Arabia. I'll see if I can help him this year. 'We speak the same language, everything will be easy. I couldn't refuse the challenge Cristiano gave me.' It's official: ✍️Mr. Jorge Jesus is the new Head Coach of @AlNassrFC 💛 Welcome, Mister! 🧠 — AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) July 14, 2025 Jesus, who dramatically left Benfica in 2015 to join their Lisbon rivals Sporting CP, has had two stints at Al Hilal but is now joining their city rivals. 'I love being in Saudi Arabia; it's the country of the future, in football and beyond,' he added. 'I am delighted to be returning. I've always been very happy. I've always won, and now I'm going to try to do it again.' The Athletic reported in March that Jesus was a leading contender to become Brazil head coach alongside Carlo Ancelotti, who assumed the role after leaving Real Madrid in May. ()
The National
a day 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.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Saudi Pro League: Cristiano Ronaldo gets new Portuguese ally in bid to end title drought in Saudi Arabia - who is the new Al Nassr coach
Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Al Nassr in the 2024/25 campaign (Image by) Jorge Jesus has been named the new head coach of Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, replacing Stefano Pioli. The Portuguese coach said he joined the team after an invitation from star man Cristiano Ronaldo . '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, as quoted by IANS. Jesus had earlier managed Al Nassr's rivals Al Hilal SFC for two seasons. He left the club after their AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 semi-final exit. However, he enjoyed success during his time there, winning the Saudi Pro League, King's Cup, and Saudi Super Cup in the 2023/24 season. Cristiano Ronaldo on his Instagram story (Screengrab) The 70-year-old has also coached major clubs like Benfica and Sporting CP in Portugal, and Flamengo in Brazil. At Al Nassr, Jesus will work with Ronaldo, who recently extended his contract with the club until 2027. The Portuguese star welcomed the coach on social media, writing, 'Bem-vindo (Welcome), Mister Jorge Jesus,' on an Instagram Story. Poll Do you think Jorge Jesus will lead Al Nassr to win titles? Yes, definitely No, I don't think so. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in late 2022 after leaving Manchester United. He has been in excellent form, scoring 93 goals in 105 matches across competitions for the club, but it yet to win the Saudi Pro League. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
