Al-Ittihad has turned to German coach Jens Wissing to restore the Saudi Arabian club to trophy-winning form following the departure of Sergio Conceição. The Portuguese tactician exited after a season without silverware, prompting club leadership to pursue a fresh direction ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Soares Outlines Vision for New Era
Al-Ittihad CEO Domingos Soares explained the rationale behind the appointment in a video statement shared on the club's official social media. Soares highlighted his prior working relationship with Wissing and stressed the coach's qualities as the foundation for Al-Ittihad's rebuild. "We have known Mr Wissing for a while, and I worked with him in the past," Soares said. "He is a young, very talented and ambitious coach with a strong desire to succeed with Al-Ittihad."
The executive emphasised that Wissing arrives with a carefully constructed backroom team blending international expertise and local knowledge. "The technical staff are a mix of international assistant coaches from different regions, as well as Saudi coaches," Soares explained. This hybrid approach reflects Al-Ittihad's ambition to combine proven foreign methods with domestic insight into Saudi football's unique challenges and opportunities.
Wissing's Recent Success in Asia
Wissing's appointment follows a remarkable achievement in AFC Champions League 2 competition. The German coach guided Japanese side Gamba Osaka to their first-ever title in that tournament, defeating Al-Nassr in the final during the second half of last season. This victory demonstrates his ability to elevate teams at crucial moments and compete across different leagues and continents—a credential Al-Ittihad clearly valued during their selection process.
Soares concluded with optimism about the structural overhaul: "The integration of these skills takes us to a new level, and I believe it is the right level to achieve the right results in the coming weeks and months." Al-Ittihad's challenge now lies in translating this fresh coaching combination into trophy success as the new season approaches.
