Sergio Conceicao has parted ways with Al-Ittihad following mutual agreement to terminate his contract with the Saudi Pro League club. The Portuguese manager's exit comes after a disappointing campaign that saw the Jeddah outfit finish fifth, unable to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr for the domestic title.
Conceicao's tenure proved brief and turbulent despite arriving with a reputation for tactical intensity and high-pressing football. The 51-year-old leaves with a year remaining on his deal, concluding a frustrating spell that saw Al-Ittihad accumulate just 55 points across the season. The gulf to champions Al-Nassr proved insurmountable, with the title-winners finishing 31 points clear of Al-Ittihad in a dominant display of Saudi dominance.
Benzema Departure Derailed Title Push
The turning point in Conceicao's Al-Ittihad project came during the winter transfer window when club captain and star forward Karim Benzema forced a move to fierce rivals Al Hilal. Losing his primary attacking outlet mid-season left the manager scrambling to maintain tactical structure and consistency. Conceicao managed just 22 wins from 42 matches across all competitions, a record insufficient for a club with Al-Ittihad's financial resources and ambitions.
Continental challenges also proved short-lived. Al-Ittihad's AFC Champions League Elite campaign ended in the quarter-finals following elimination by Japanese side Machida Zelvia, removing another avenue for silverware and European credibility. The combination of domestic disappointment and continental failure made Conceicao's position increasingly untenable.
What Comes Next
Al-Ittihad's sporting hierarchy, led by CEO Domingos Soares de Oliveira, has already begun searching for a replacement capable of engineering a genuine title challenge. Conceicao's availability will attract attention from top European clubs entering their pre-season phase, offering the former Porto manager an opportunity to resurrect his career at elite level.
