Saudi Arabia's Al-Shabab FC officially announced the appointment of veteran Algerian coach Noureddine Benzekri as the new head coach of their first football team, succeeding former coach Emmanuel Isaila, who was dismissed due to poor results. In his first statements after taking over the role, Benzekri spoke about the behind-the-scenes negotiations and categorically rejected the label of "rescue coach" that had become associated with him in Saudi sporting circles.
Historical background and context of the appointment
The appointment of Ben Zekri comes at a sensitive time for Al Shabab, one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Saudi Arabia, boasting a rich history of achievements. The team, nicknamed "The Sheikh of Clubs," has suffered from inconsistent performances and results recently, placing them in a position unworthy of their history and the ambitions of their fans. This decline led to the departure of coach Isaila, and the management has opened the door for a coach with sufficient experience in the Saudi league to get the team back on track.
Noureddine Benzekri is known as an “emergency coach” or “rescue expert,” having previously succeeded brilliantly in difficult missions with clubs threatened with relegation, such as Damac and Al-Fayha, earning him this title. However, the Algerian coach believes that this reputation does not reflect the full extent of his coaching abilities and ambitions.
He rejected the title of "rescue coach" and expressed future aspirations
In his media statements, Ben Zekri revealed that negotiations with Al-Shabab's management lasted for a full month, and that he rejected offers from other Saudi clubs during this period. He explained, "The negotiations lasted a full month, and I rejected several offers from Saudi clubs because I am not looking to repeat the experience of saving teams from relegation.".
Ben Zekri stressed that limiting his career to this single title is unfair. He added, “Anyone who describes me as just a rescue coach is very wrong. My eight months with Al-Kholoud proved my ability to compete with big teams like Al-Ettifaq, Al-Fateh, Al-Khaleej, and Al-Fayha.” He pointed out that his recent experience demonstrated his ability to build a competitive team, not just avoid relegation.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
The appointment of Ben Zekri as youth coach represents a potential turning point for the club. Domestically, Al-Shabab fans hope that the coach's experience and strong personality will help lift the team out of its slump and restore technical and psychological stability to the players. The goal will not be merely survival, but a return to competing for top positions in the Saudi Professional League, which is witnessing unprecedented competition.
Ben Zekri concluded his remarks on an optimistic and ambitious note, emphasizing the club's stature by saying, "Al-Shabab is a great and historic club. I've returned to a major project, and my goal is to restore the Lions to their rightful place and deliver performances worthy of the club's illustrious history." These words send a clear message that his mission goes beyond temporary solutions and aims to build a sustainable sporting project that will restore Al-Shabab's lost glory.
