On their official website, Al Nassr proudly announced the immediate appointment of Stefano Pioli as their new head coach.
Following a lackluster start to the 2024/25 AFC Champions League, Al Nassr’s board of directors made the decisive move to part ways with Portuguese coach Luis Castro. While the recent draw against Al Shorta may have sparked speculation, Castro’s departure was, in reality, a reflection of Al Nassr’s overall underperformance throughout the season. Ronaldo’s compatriot found himself on thin ice after a string of disappointing results. Despite a star-studded lineup and high ambitions, Al Nassr only managed two wins in their first six games of the season (1 loss, 3 draws).
Among the setbacks, the most stinging was their defeat to fierce rivals Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup. Currently sitting 7th in the Saudi League, Al Nassr trails top-ranked Al-Ittihad by 4 points (5 vs 9). To add to their woes, their AFC Champions League campaign began with a lackluster performance.
However, less than 24 hours after Castro’s dismissal, Al Nassr wasted no time in securing a high-profile replacement. In a swift move, the Saudi club reached a full agreement with renowned coach Stefano Pioli, ushering in a new era of leadership for Ronaldo and his teammates.
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Will Pioli succeed at Al Nassr? – Photo: Getty
Pioli and his agent immediately traveled to Saudi Arabia. Today (September 19), the Italian strategist will go to Riyadh to complete the contract. Thus, Pioli is about to return after 4 months of saying goodbye to AC Milan. The 58-year-old coach left the San Siro team in May this year.
Before accepting the offer from Al Nassr, Pioli had signed a three-year contract with Al Ittihad. However, the deal fell through due to disagreements between the two sides. Pioli is expected to make his Al Nassr debut in the away match against Al Ettifaq in the fourth round of the Saudi League on September 21. However, Pioli’s first match in his new position is likely to come in the next round.
Al Nassr hope that the change of coach will help them reap success after more than a year of failure under Luis Castro. During his time in office, Castro only helped Ronaldo’s team win 1 title in the friendly tournament of the 2023 Arab Club Championship. With experience leading big clubs in Serie A and winning the Scudetto, Pioli received great trust from the Board of Directors and Al Nassr fans.
