The adventure of Laurent Blanc at the head of Al-Ittihad will not have lasted very long. Beaten 2-0 Friday by Al-Nassr by Cristiano Ronaldo during the shock of the 4th day of Saudi Pro League, the former coach of the Blues was thanked the next day.
The Djeddah club confirmed on Saturday evening to have put an end to the contract of its 59 -year -old French coach as well as that of his entire staff. “The club's board of directors expresses his sincere thanks and thanks him for the efforts made during the past period, and wishes them full success in their future collaborations”Al-Ittihad wrote in a press release.
Arrived in the summer of 2024 in Saudi Arabia, Laurent Blanc found a bench almost a year after his departure from Olympique Lyonnais in September 2023. This season, his mission was to defend the title of champion conquered by the club last year.
An temporary duo at the head of the club
The start of the season had however been ideal: three victories in three games before this setback against the ogre led by Cristiano Ronaldo. With a rich workforce of stars like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, Fabinho, Houssem Aouar, Danilo Pereira, Steven Bergwijn or Moussa Diaby, optimism reigned around the project.
Pending the appointment of a new coach, the club has appointed an temporary duo. The Saudi Hassan Khalifa, assistant of Blanc since July, will be supported by the Spaniard Ivan Carrasco, former trainer in Valence and Barça. “Until the club concludes an agreement with a new technical staff corresponding to the club's ambitions and meeting the objectives of the team as well as to the aspirations of its faithful supporters”said al-Ittihad.
