The phenomenon of rapid coaching changes in the Saudi Professional League continues, confirming that a "fire and fury" has become a prominent feature of the competition, which is currently experiencing a historic boom. The latest episode in this saga was the announcement by Al-Riyadh Club's board of directors on Wednesday that they had mutually terminated their contract with Uruguayan coach Daniel Carreño, making him the seventh coach to leave his post during the current 2023-2024 season.
General context: Growing ambitions and little patience
The phenomenon of sacking coaches is not new to Saudi football, but it gained unprecedented momentum with the launch of the investment and privatization project for sports clubs, a key component of Saudi Vision 2030. This project injected massive investments and brought in world-class players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema, dramatically raising the expectations of club management and fans. Immediate results became the primary demand, and patience for long-term technical projects diminished, placing coaches under immense pressure to secure victories from the very first match.
Details of Carreno's dismissal and the search for a lifeline
The decision to sack Carreño came after a string of inconsistent results that left the team in 16th place in the standings with just 12 points after 21 rounds. Despite the Uruguayan coach's extensive experience in Saudi football, the team suffered from a lack of stability and failed to deliver the expected performance. The club's management temporarily appointed Brazilian coach Mauricio Dulac in an attempt to salvage the situation before facing Al-Khaleej in the 22nd round. This is the second coaching dismissal for Al-Riyadh this season, following the earlier sacking of Spaniard Javier Calleja.
List of victims of the dismissal guillotine this season
Carreno was not the first or only victim; many coaches before him could not withstand the pressure of results, most notably:
- Nuno Santo (Al-Ittihad): He was sacked after the defending champions' poor results and Argentine Marcelo Gallardo was appointed in his place.
- Marcel Keizer (Youth): The Dutch coach left early in the season and was replaced by Croatian Igor Pescan.
- Igor Jovicevich (Al-Raed): The Croatian coach was dismissed due to a poor start and Romanian Marius Sumudica was hired.
- Krešimir Reghecampf (Al-Ta’i): The Croatian coach did not last long and was succeeded by the Romanian Laurentiu Reghecampf.
- Czesław Michniewicz (Abha): The Polish coach was sacked, and South African Pitso Mosimane came in on a rescue mission.
- Felipe Gouveia (Al-Hazm): He was one of the first to leave the Roshan League this season.
Expected impact: between the search for stability and the risks of change
Domestically, this constant turnover leads to a state of technical instability within clubs, as players need time to adapt to the philosophy and tactics of each new coach, which can negatively impact team cohesion and overall performance. Internationally, this phenomenon sends a dual message. On the one hand, it reflects the high level of competitiveness and ambition that the Roshan League has reached, and the clubs' desire to reach the ranks of world-class leagues. On the other hand, it may worry some top international coaches who prefer to work in a stable environment that allows them ample time to implement their projects, potentially affecting the league's reputation as an attractive working environment in the long run.
