A new mission for the "survival engineer" in the Roshan League
Al-Shabab FC, one of the oldest and most prestigious clubs in Saudi Arabia, announced the appointment of veteran Algerian coach Noureddine Benzekri as the new manager of their first football team, succeeding Spaniard Manuel Alguaci. This contract, which runs for the 2025/26 season, marks Benzekri's sixth stint in Saudi football, a move the club's management hopes will restore stability to the team, which has suffered from inconsistent results recently.
Historical background: A proven track record in landing battles
Noureddine Benzekri (61 years old) gained widespread fame in the Saudi League as the “Engineer of Survival,” due to his repeated successes in saving the clubs he coached from relegation. His Saudi career began with Al-Raed in the 2012/13 season, but his most significant impact came in his subsequent stints. In the 2018/19 season, he miraculously led Al-Fayha to avoid relegation from the Pro League. He repeated the feat with Damac in the 2019/20 season, then with Al-Akhdoud in the 2023/24 season, and finally with Al-Kholoud in the 2024/25 season, demonstrating his exceptional ability to handle pressure and build teams capable of fighting until the very end.
Youth challenge: Different ambitions and a complex task
Unlike his previous experiences, which revolved around the goal of survival, Benzekri finds himself facing a different kind of challenge today. Al-Shabab is not a team fighting relegation; it is a club with a rich history and a large fan base that always aspires to compete for local and continental titles. The Algerian coach's task comes at a critical time, as the team sits in 14th place in the Roshen league standings with only 19 points, just 6 points above the relegation zone – a position unbecoming of the club's history. The team is suffering from clear problems, especially defensively, having conceded 31 goals, while its attack has only managed 21 goals in 21 matches, reflecting the team's imbalance.
Importance and expected impact: A local and regional perspective
Locally, this appointment is seen as a gamble by Al-Shabab's management on Ben Zekri's deep experience in Saudi football and his ability to instill tactical discipline and raise the players' fighting spirit – qualities the team has recently lacked. The "Lions" fans expect the coach's impact to be swift and decisive, first steering the team away from the relegation zone and then rebuilding confidence to compete for top positions. Regionally, Ben Zekri's success with a major club like Al-Shabab confirms the competence of Arab coaches and their ability to lead top teams, not just mid-table or lower-ranked ones. His experience will be closely watched by observers across the region and may pave the way for other experienced coaches in Gulf leagues to take on similar roles.
