Al Ittihad terminates contract with Nuno after loss to air force club from Iraq
Al Ittihad, the Saudi club, has relieved Nuno Espirito Santo of his managerial duties. The decision came in the aftermath of a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Iraq’s Air Force Club during the Asian Champions League encounter.
Nuno, renowned for his successful tenure at Wolverhampton Wanderers from 2017 to 2021, had been at the helm of Jeddah-based Al Ittihad since July of the previous year. Despite securing the Saudi title in the prior season, the Portuguese coach faced mounting pressure due to the team’s struggles in the Saudi Pro League.
Reports hinted at strained relations between Nuno and star striker Karim Benzema, who joined the club earlier in the year as part of the influx of foreign talent in the Pro League.
In a statement released on social media platform X, Al Ittihad declared the termination of Nuno Santo’s contract after conducting a comprehensive evaluation of his coaching stint. Assistant coach Hassan Khalifa will take interim charge while the club seeks a suitable replacement for Nuno.
This departure from Al Ittihad marks a swift exit for Nuno, who had a brief four-month tenure as the manager of Tottenham Hotspur before his dismissal in the summer of 2021.
