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.
Mbappé equals ‘idol’ Ronaldo with his record 59th goal in a year for Real Madrid
- “It’s incredible, in my first (full) year to do what Cristiano did. (He’s) my idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid,” Mbappé said
BARCELONA, Spain: Kylian Mbappé scored his 59th goal for Real Madrid in 2025 on Saturday to equal the club record for the most in a year held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The milestone was about to escape the France striker until he converted a penalty kick with four minutes left to complete a 2-0 win over 10-man Sevilla in Madrid’s final game of the year.
Mbappé matched Ronaldo’s tally from 2013 on his 27th birthday. After embracing his teammates, he marked the feat with a subdued version of Ronaldo’s trademark goal celebration — whereby the Portugal forward leaps up and thrusts his arms downwards upon landing — before blowing a kiss at the television cameras.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Madrid in the summer of 2024, has scored 29 times for Madrid this season, including a league-leading 18.
“It’s incredible, in my first (full) year to do what Cristiano did. (He’s) my idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid,” Mbappé said.
“My celebration is for him. I wanted to do that because he helped me adapt here and now I can help Madrid win games with my goals. I wanted to share it with him. I have a really good relationship with him, he is my friend, and I wish him and all Madrid fans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Jude Bellingham scored with a header in the 38th minute and Sevilla lost defender Marcao to a second booking for rash tackles with 20 minutes left.
Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda also was expelled by the referee during the halftime break apparently for protesting.
Alonso has been under pressure for several weeks due to a run of bad results and the overall lackluster play of his star-studded side. Spanish sports media is rife with speculation the first-year coach could be replaced.
Now Madrid club president Florentino Pérez will have two weeks to ponder the team’s future before its next game against Real Betis on Jan. 4.
Alonso could have ill afforded another slip at the Santiago Bernabeu after his side lost its previous two games. But Madrid’s fans still had reason to grumble after Sevilla repeatedly created scoring chances — even after being reduced to 10 men.
Alexis Sánchez, still spry at age 37, and right back Juanlu Sánchez stood out the most for a Sevilla side that poked holes in Madrid’s defense.
Madrid needed Thibaut Courtois to deny Alexis, Isaac Romero and Alfonso González on four strikes in the second half. But Sevilla could have gone ahead if it had just showed more finishing touch early on.
The result was still in doubt until Mbappé converted his spot kick after Juanlu fouled Rodrygo in the area.
Madrid is in second place at one point behind Barcelona before the leader visits third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
