The 2025-2026 Saudi Professional League season witnessed a fiery start, full of surprises and decisive administrative decisions. Club management wasted no time in wielding the weapon of dismissal against coaches. With the increased competitiveness and massive investments in Saudi clubs, "patience" has become a rare commodity, leading to the dismissal of four coaches at once early in the season, paying the price for poor results and differing tactical visions.
Laurent Blanc... a shock at the club
The biggest news was the dismissal of Frenchman Laurent Blanc from coaching Al-Ittihad, a move that sparked widespread controversy in sporting circles. Although Blanc entered the season armed with the historic achievement of winning the domestic double last season, the rules of football only recognize the present. The team's shaky start, characterized by a weak defense and a lack of effective attacking solutions, put them in a precarious position that fell far short of the fans' expectations, hastening the decision to leave in order to rectify the situation before it was too late.
Gonzales and the Al-Qadisiyah Project
The second big name to leave the scene was Spaniard Michel Gonzalez, coach of Al-Qadisiyah. The Eastern Province club entered the season with sky-high ambitions, bolstered by high-profile signings and international names, but the reality on the pitch was quite different. The team failed to establish a clear playing style, and results fluctuated alarmingly, leading the management to conclude that the current project was not on the right track, thus ending Gonzalez's tenure despite the high hopes placed on him.
The struggle for survival brings down Calleja and Sergio
The dismissals weren't limited to top or mid-table clubs; they also included those battling to avoid relegation early on. Spaniard Javier Calleja left his post at Al-Riyadh after failing to pull the team out of a spiral of poor results that threatened to push them into the relegation zone. Similarly, Portuguese coach Paulo Sergio left Al-Akhdoud by mutual consent after the team found itself in the lower ranks of the table, with both parties agreeing that a change was the best solution to salvage the season.
The context of transformation in Saudi football
These decisions come amidst a historic transformation in Saudi sports, with the Roshan League becoming a global focal point thanks to international recruitment and significant government support within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. This transformation has raised expectations to unprecedented levels, leaving coaches with very little room for error. Clubs are no longer simply seeking participation, but rather aiming to deliver a football product worthy of the league's high market value.
The phenomenon of early dismissals reflects the immense pressure placed on both management and coaching staff. In light of fierce competition and the ever-increasing technical levels of all teams, stability has become contingent on immediate results. This underscores that the current Roshan League is not bound by past achievements, and that only the strongest and most prepared on the field will survive.
