Al-Ittihad have appointed German coach Jens Wissing as their new head coach on a two-year contract until 2028, the club announced on Friday. Wissing replaces Portuguese Sergio Conceicao, who left the club after a disappointing 2025-26 season for the winners of the 2024-25 season. Al-Ittihad finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League, ending up 31 points behind champions Al-Nassr after suffering 11 losses.
Wissing's Background and Achievements
The 38-year-old coach, who is considered one of the world's best young coaching talents, previously managed the 2026 AFC Champions League winners, Japanese side Gamba Osaka. In a statement released on social media, Al-Ittihad said sporting director Frank Capo expressed “full confidence in his ability to lead the team during the next chapter.”
Wissing's Vision for Al-Ittihad
In a signing ceremony held in Jeddah, Wissing expressed his hope to lead a new project to bring the team back to competing for all titles next season. He said: “Every beginning carries a challenge, and this is the challenge that I chose. From the first moment, I realized the prestige of this club and the magnitude of the responsibility that this emblem carries.”
He added: “I believe that challenges lead to the greatest achievements, and our goal is to build a team worthy of Al-Ittihad and that fulfills the aspirations of its great fans. I am here to take on this challenge with all my passion, but this journey will not be complete without you.”
Preparations Underway
The team began its preparations under the supervision of Hassan Khalifa, the national coach who has been the permanent assistant to several other coaches over previous seasons. Khalifa is expected to continue his work until the start of the training camp on July 14 in Marbella, Spain, which will last until July 31.
