In a decisive move aimed at correcting the course of the struggling team, the management of the Saudi Al-Najma club officially announced the appointment of the British coach, Mr. Nestor El Maestro, as the new technical director of the first football team, succeeding the Portuguese coach Mario Silva, whose contract was terminated by mutual consent.
This change comes at a critical time for Al-Najma, who sit at the bottom of the Saudi Professional League table with only 5 points after 20 rounds. The newly promoted team faces a formidable challenge to avoid relegation, having failed to secure a single victory this season, managing only five draws and suffering 15 defeats. The statistics reflect the extent of the team's struggles: they have conceded 41 goals while scoring a mere 18, prompting urgent action from the management to salvage the situation.
Who is Nestor El Maestro?
Nestor El Maestro (41), of Serbian origin and holding British citizenship, boasts a diverse coaching resume in European football. He began his coaching career at a young age, working as an assistant at clubs such as Schalke, Hannover, and Hamburg in Germany. His most notable success as a head coach came with Spartak Trnava, whom he led to the Slovakian league title in the 2017-2018 season for the first time in 45 years. He has also managed well-known clubs such as CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria and Sturm Graz in Austria, with his most recent stint being with Göztepe in Turkey.
A near-impossible task and an immediate challenge
El Maestro's mission with Al-Najma is a significant challenge, as he takes over the team in a precarious position. The British coach immediately began his duties, leading his first training session on Sunday in preparation for the upcoming match, which will be his first test. Al-Najma will be hosted by Al-Kholoud Club next Saturday, in the 22nd round of the Roshan League. Al-Najma fans are hopeful that the new coach can breathe new life into the team and achieve a "miracle" that will ensure their survival in a league that has become a global attraction thanks to its draw of some of the world's biggest football stars.
This technical change represents the club’s latest strategy to hold on to its chances of survival, and reflects the high dynamism and intense competitiveness in the Saudi League, where there is no room for complacency, and negative results push clubs to make quick and radical decisions in the hope of changing the reality and achieving the ambitions of their fans.
