Official announcement of termination of contract by mutual consent
Saudi Arabia's Al-Shabab FC officially ended the tenure of Spanish coach Manuel Alguacil with the first team, announcing the termination of his contract by mutual consent. This decisive decision came at a critical time, just hours before the team's anticipated match against Yemen's Al-Tadhamon Hadramout in the final round of the Gulf Champions League group stage, reflecting dissatisfaction within the club regarding the team's results and performance under the Spanish coach.
The context of the contract and high expectations that were not met
Manuel Alguacil arrived in Riyadh at the start of this season with an impressive resume, most notably leading Real Sociedad to the Copa del Rey title and delivering attractive and effective football in La Liga. His appointment came as part of Al Shabab's efforts to keep pace with the rapid development of the Saudi Professional League and bring in a world-class coach capable of building an ambitious sporting project that would allow the "White Lions" to compete for titles. Expectations were high from both fans and management, who hoped that Alguacil would successfully transfer his European experience and implement his tactical philosophy to lift the team out of the instability it had suffered in recent seasons.
A disappointing outcome on all fronts
Despite high hopes, the team's results under Al-Ghawasil's leadership have been deeply disappointing. Domestically, they languish in 14th place in the Roshan League standings with a mere 19 points after a significant number of rounds – a position unbecoming of Al-Shabab's history and stature. Their performance in the King's Cup was no better, as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals following a heavy defeat to Al-Ittihad. Regionally, they failed to secure a single victory in the Gulf Champions League, managing only four draws and one loss, leaving them in a precarious position before the final round.
The complete figures for the washing machines with the youth:
- Total matches: 29 matches in all competitions.
- Victories: Only 6 matches.
- Draws: 11 matches.
- Defeats: 12 matches.
- Goals scored: 29 goals.
- Goals conceded: 39 goals.
Expected impact and future steps
The decision to dismiss Al-Ghawasil marks a turning point in Al-Shabab's season. In the short term, the management has entrusted the task to national coach Abdullah Al-Mutairi and his assistant staff to lead the team in their upcoming Gulf Cup match, in an attempt to salvage the situation and secure qualification. In the long term, however, the management faces a significant challenge in selecting a new coach capable of correcting the team's course, improving their league position, and preparing them for the next season. This swift dismissal reflects the immense pressure and intense competition within the Saudi league, where management no longer grants extended periods to coaches who fail to deliver immediate results, given the massive investments and high ambitions of all clubs.
