In Riyadh, the well-known Saudi soccer club Al-Hilal has confirmed the departure of its head coach, Jorge Jesus, by reaching a mutual agreement to end his tenure. The 70-year-old coach’s exit follows shortly after Al-Hilal faced defeat against Al-Ahli in the semifinal of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The club made the announcement via social media, stating, “The Board of Directors of Al-Hilal Club Company has agreed with the Portuguese head coach of the first football team Jorge Jesus to terminate the contractual relationship between them.” This development concludes Jesus’ stint with the club, which began when the former Benfica coach was appointed in July 2023.
Jesus’ earlier achievements with Al-Hilal were notable, as he guided the team through an impressive world-record winning streak of 34 games, culminating in their 19th Saudi Pro League title. Nevertheless, this season has proven more challenging, as the club lags six points behind the current leader, Al-Ittihad, with only five matches remaining.
In the interim, Mohammed Al-Shalhoub will assume the role of caretaker manager. Speculation within local media suggests that a foreign coach is expected to be appointed soon before the club faces Real Madrid in the opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup on June 18. Meanwhile, reports are connecting Jorge Jesus with a potential move to the Brazil national team, which has been without a head coach since Dorival Junior’s dismissal in March.