Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr appoint former AC Milan boss Pioli

Saudi club Al-Nassr announced Wednesday the appointment of Stefano Pioli as coach of the side headed up by Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo. (X/@FabrizioRomano)
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Updated 18 September 2024
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Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr appoint former AC Milan boss Pioli

  • The Italian replaces Luis Castro, who parted ways with the club on Tuesday after a slow start to the season, both domestically and in the AFC Champions League
  • “Pioli is Nassrawi,” Al Nassr said a statement on social media platform X

RIYADH: Saudi club Al-Nassr announced Wednesday the appointment of Stefano Pioli as coach of the side headed up by Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Italian replaces Luis Castro, who parted ways with the club on Tuesday after a slow start to the season, both domestically and in the AFC Champions League.
“Pioli is Nassrawi,” Al-Nassr said a statement on social media platform X.
“We welcome Stefano Pioli as our new coach.”

 

The 58-year-old was AC Milan boss from October 2019 to May 2024, and oversaw the club’s Serie A title-winning campaign in 2022.
Prior to his near five-year stint at the Rossoneri, Pioli coached Italian sides including Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Lazio and Bologna.
He started his managerial career in 2003 with Salernitana and had worked exclusively in his native Italy up until his appointment by Al-Nassr.
His Portuguese predecessor Castro was the third coach to depart Al-Nassr since Ronaldo’s groundbreaking arrival in early 2023 on a contract that was said to net him 400 million euros over two-and-a-half years.

 


The highly decorated Ronaldo is yet to win a Saudi trophy with the Riyadh club, with his sole silverware so far being last year’s Arab Club Champions Cup.
Al-Nassr, who finished a distant second in the last Saudi Pro League season, have drawn twice in three matches at the start of the new campaign and on Monday drew 1-1 with Iraq’s Al-Shorta in their AFC Champions League Elite opener.


Pakistan legend Akram hails ‘incredible’ Starc after Ashes heroics

Updated 06 December 2025
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Pakistan legend Akram hails ‘incredible’ Starc after Ashes heroics

  • Australia’s Mitchell Starc surpassed Akram’s tally of 414 test wickets during Brisbane match against England
  • Akram says despite being 35, Starc can “go on and on” due to his passion for cricket and fiery pace bowling

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram believes even more is to come from Australia’s “incredible” veteran Ashes wrecking ball Mitchell Starc.

Akram was reacting to Starc surpassing his tally of 414 wickets during the Brisbane Test against England on Thursday, becoming the leading left-arm pace bowler of all time.

“Congratulations to Starc on passing my tally of wickets,” Akram told AFP, saying that the 35-year-old’s passion and commitment helped set him apart.

“Starc has shown a great amount of dedication and focus in these times of too much cricket, having T20 leagues with big money coming your way.

“He did play T20 leagues but then decided to play more Tests and left the shorter format because he wanted to be remembered as one of the best in the world in the history of the game.

“Ten years down the line, if anyone decides to have an all-time Test team, then Starc will be named in that team for sure.”

Despite trumping Akram, Starc described the Pakistan great as the “pinnacle.”

“Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am,” Starc said on Thursday.

Akram dismissed the debate over who is the greatest.

“It is difficult to compare both of us because we are from different eras,” he said. “People say that I played on placid tracks and he played on bouncy Aussie tracks, so that was different.

“But nowadays batters have a different mindset and they play aggressive shots even on good balls, so that makes wicket-taking a more difficult art.”

Akram said he believed Starc’s passion could take him further.

“He is 35 and his pace is still there and passion remains at its peak. He has been incredible as a fast bowler and is enjoying fast bowling, so can go on and on.”