In a move reflecting the tension within Al-Shabab club, Spanish coach Imanol Alguacil refused to attend the post-match press conference following his team's 5-2 defeat to Al-Ahli. The match, held at Al-Inma Stadium as part of the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League, saw the result deal a significant blow to the team's hopes and those of its fans.
Al-Ghawasil's absence from the press conference, a mandatory procedure for coaches according to Saudi Pro League regulations, lends credence to media reports confirming that Al-Shabab's management has made a final decision to dismiss him. This decision is attributed to a series of poor results suffered by the team under his leadership, results that fell short of the club's ambitions to compete strongly in the rapidly developing Saudi Pro League.
Background to the crisis and declining results
Imanol Alguacil, who led Real Sociedad to remarkable success, took over as Al Shabab's coach amidst great optimism about his ability to build a competitive team. However, the team failed to achieve the desired stability, suffering from inconsistent performances and results both domestically and continentally. The loss to Al Ahly proved to be the final straw, exposing clear technical and defensive weaknesses, which hastened the management's decision to terminate his contract.
The importance of the event and its impact on the Roshan League
This event reflects the highly competitive nature and immense pressure coaches face in the Saudi Professional League this season. With clubs attracting international stars and raising expectations, management has become less tolerant of poor results. The decision to dismiss a coach of Al-Ghawasil's stature mid-season sends a clear message: there is no room for anything less than outstanding performance and positive results.
Domestically, this dismissal will affect the stability of the youth team in the short term, as the management will have to act quickly to find a suitable replacement to lead the team for the remainder of the season. Internationally, such events put the Saudi league under scrutiny, highlighting the rigorous professional environment that does not tolerate failure, which may influence the decisions of international coaches when considering coaching opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
