Al-Ittihad failed to live up to expectations in their defence of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) title last season, finishing fifth in the standings.
Sergio Conceicao was sacked as manager following the massively underwhelming campaign, but it has not taken the 14-time champions too long to name his successor.
Jens Wissing is a wildcard appointment considering his lack of experience. However, sports bettors may feel he can guide them back to the top of the SPL.
The betting platforms featured on arabswin-saudi.com/en/ rate Al-Ittihad as one of the favourites to win the league title this season. Read on as we ass their chances of justifying their odds.
A Painful Fall After SPL Glory
Al-Ittihad finished 31 points behind champions Al-Nassr. They also failed to make it past the quarter-final of the AFC Champions League Elite and were eliminated from the King’s Cup in the semi-final.
They barely qualified for next season’s Champions League Elite, finishing just two points ahead of Al-Taawoun. Al-Ittihad will enter the tournament in the preliminary stage.
For one of the biggest clubs in Saudi Arabia, that dramatic fall from grace has forced them to switch gears and opt for fresh leadership.
Wissing arrives with a growing reputation. He signed a two-year deal and will be eager to make his mark with a club that has lofty ambitions.
It remains to be seen whether he has what it takes to return the club to the summit of Saudi football and challenge for the title in the coming season.
Wissing has Built a Strong Reputation
Wissing’s success elsewhere has persuaded Al-Ittihad that he is the right man to lead them into a new era.
The 38-year-old previously worked alongside Roger Schmidt at Benfica. The Portuguese giants were at the top of their game at the time, winning the league title.
Wissing was not the face of Benfica’s success, but working behind the scenes at one of Europe’s biggest clubs bolstered his experience.
That experience paid dividends when he took the bold step of becoming the head coach at Gamba Osaka in Japan.
Wissing’s record in the Japanese top flight was modest, but he made up for it by leading Gamba Osaka to the AFC Champions League Two title. Al-Ittihad will hope he can replicate that success at a higher level.
The SPL giants have won the league title twice in the last four years. Before then, they had not tasted domestic glory in well over a decade.
They will be hoping Wissing has what it takes to end their continental title drought, which has now dragged on for over two decades.
Wissing Eager to Bring Success to Al Ittihad
Not many young managers can deal with the pressure of stepping into a club the size of Al-Ittihad, so Wissing has a lot to prove. He believes he will prove his credentials.
“Every beginning carries a challenge, and this is the challenge that I chose,” Wissing said. “From the first moment, I realised the prestige of this club and the magnitude of the responsibility that this emblem carries.
“I believe that challenges lead to the greatest achievements, and our goal is to build a team worthy of Al-Ittihad and that fulfils 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.”
Wissing’s league record at Gamba Osaka was questionable, so his appointment may not get the fans off their seats. His continental success papered over the cracks, but it would be cruel to write him off.
He has already worked alongside world-class players during his time with Benfica, so knows how to handle elite-level professionals.
Wissing will hope to hit the ground running as Al-Ittihad chase the title, although closing a 31-point gap on reigning champions Al-Nassr is a huge task.
