LONDON: Al-Hilal have turned to the Portuguese market in their efforts to secure a coach capable of leading Saudi Arabia’s premier club to a third AFC Champions League title.
Arab News has learned of approaches made to Sporting manager Jorge Jesus and also Paulo Fonseca, who plans to leave Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk at the end of the current campaign.
Jesus is contracted to Sporting for one more year, however financial and political problems at the Lisbon club may facilitate a parting of the ways with a manager whose salary of more than €5 million ($5.9 million) is the highest ever paid in the Primeira Liga. Recruited at unprecedented expense from city rivals Benfica in 2015 with the aim of returning the Portuguese title to Sporting for the first time in more than a decade, Jesus has delivered one second-place finish, one third-place finish and has already ceded this season’s Liga to FC Porto.
In his six years at Benfica, Jesus won the league three times, added six domestic cups and led the club to back-to-back Europa League finals. The 63-year-old has never played or coached outside Portugal and speaks little English, but may be tempted by the financial terms on offer in the Kingdom.
Fonseca met representatives of Al-Hilal in England last week to discuss the vacant position and, according to a close friend, said no to the chance of leading the Riyadh giants. The former Sporting Braga, FC Porto and Pacos de Ferreira boss is out of contract this summer after leading Shakhtar to the 2016-17 title and becoming the first coach to defeat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this season.
The 45-year-old was ready to succeed Ronald Koeman as Everton manager in November, only for the appointment to be blocked by Shakhtar. Fonseca would like his next position to be at an English Premier League club and he is understood to have been included on a long list of potential candidates to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.
Al-Hilal dismissed Ramon Diaz in February, midway through a disastrous AFC Champions League group-stage campaign. Diaz’s assistant Juan Ignacio Brown took over on a caretaker basis, ultimately overseeing a final-day Saudi Professional League title success.
As reported by Arab News this month, Al-Hilal’s efforts to secure a leading European coach have also seen Quique Sanchez Flores turn down the vacant post. It is understood that a salary in excess of €6 million has been made available for the right candidate.
Al-Hilal search for new coach leads them to Sporting boss Jorge Jesus
Al-Hilal search for new coach leads them to Sporting boss Jorge Jesus
- Jorge Jesus seen as man who can lead Al-Hilal to AFC Champions League glory.
- Riyadh giants have been knocked back by Shakhtar Donetsk boss Paulo Fonseca.
Al-Ahli confirm Asian Champions League Elite progress with emphatic 5-0 win over Al-Shorta
- Al-Ahli are joined in the next round by Tractor, who claimed a 2-1 win over Qatar’s Al-Duhail through a late goal by Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh
- The first eight finishers in the league phases in east and west Asia advance to the round of 16, which will be played in March, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final in Saudi Arabia in April
BAGHDAD: Defending champions Al-Ahli cruised to a 5-0 win over Al-Shorta in Baghdad on Monday as the Saudi Pro League side confirmed their progress to the knockout rounds of the Asian Champions League Elite alongside Iran’s Tractor FC.
Goals from Roger Ibanez, Ivan Toney, Galeno, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat and Ziyad Al-Johani sealed a comfortable win for Matthias Jaissle’s side, who moved on to 13 points from six matches to guarantee a top-eight finish in the 12-team standings.
“We did well today and we go home with three points,” Ibanez said. “That’s the important part.”
Ibanez gave Al-Ahli the lead when he converted Toney’s cut-back in the 30th minute and the former Brentford striker doubled the lead when he raced onto a pass through the middle by Galeno soon after the restart.
Galeno converted from a tight angle and Al-Shamat and Al-Johani netted in the closing stages as Al-Ahli bounced back from a surprise loss to Sharjah FC last month.
Al-Ahli are joined in the next round by Tractor, who claimed a 2-1 win over Qatar’s Al-Duhail through a late goal by Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh.
Benjamin Bourigeaud had given Al-Duhail a 35th-minute lead from the penalty spot but Shojae Khalilzadeh levelled the scores and Hosseinzadeh hit the winner two minutes into stoppage time.
Tractor moved on to 14 points and second in the table behind Al-Hilal who recorded a sixth consecutive win in the competition with a 1-0 victory over Sharjah in the UAE.
Simone Inzaghi’s side had already confirmed their place in the next phase and picked up another three points when Malcom struck with nine minutes remaining.
Al-Gharafa kept their qualification hopes alive through a 1-0 win over Al-Wahda from the UAE with Seydou Sano scoring an 87th-minute winner for the Qatari side.
Al-Gharafa climbed to six points and ninth in the table while Al-Wahda, who have qualified, dropped to fourth.
The first eight finishers in the league phases in east and west Asia advance to the round of 16, which will be played in March, with the quarteRfinals, semifinals and final in Saudi Arabia in April.
