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Al-Ittihad: End of the road for Laurent Blanc

Laurent Blanc dismissed by Al-Ittihad

Laurent Blanc is no longer at the helm of Al-Ittihad. The Saudi club announced this Sunday the termination of the contract of the former PSG coach, coming just a day after a 2-0 defeat to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the fourth round of the Saudi Pro League. It’s a bold move, especially considering Blanc’s relatively impressive domestic track record since his arrival in the summer of 2024.

In just over a year in Jeddah, Blanc managed to bring the Saudi championship title back to Al-Ittihad, restoring the club’s continental prestige. However, the board felt that the loss to rivals Al-Nassr, following a Super Cup exit as early as August, exposed structural weaknesses in squad management and the team’s playing style. This decision comes despite the club’s flawless run in the league up to that point, with three wins from three matches.

Al-Ittihad’s official statement paid tribute to the former French national team manager: “The club’s board of directors expresses its sincere gratitude and thanks him for the efforts made during the past period, and wishes him every success in his future endeavors. Until the club concludes an agreement with a new technical staff that matches the club’s ambitions and meets the objectives of the team as well as the aspirations of its loyal supporters.”

While the hunt for a new head coach continues, the club’s management has appointed Hassan Khalifa, Blanc’s assistant, and Ivan Carrasco, former youth coach at Barcelona and Valencia, as interim managers. With a squad stacked with Francophone stars—ranging from Karim Benzema and Houssem Aouar to N’Golo Kanté and Moussa Diaby—the pressure is on to quickly get the team back on track and stay in the title race.