Nuno Espirito Santo's job at stake following Al Ittihad’s poor run of form
Nuno Espirito Santo led Al Ittihad to the Saudi Pro League 2022-23 triumph
According to reports, Nuno Espirito Santo is “on the brink” of losing his job at Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League after an altercation with Karim Benzema.
The 49-year-old veteran manager of FC Porto and Wolves was named Al Ittihad’s new manager in July of the previous year, barely seven months before Spurs of the Premier League fired him.
Soon after, he assisted “The Tigers” in winning their first SPL championship since 2009. This summer, he made moves to bolster their main-team roster by bringing in N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, and Jota.
However, following a difficult start to the 2023–24 season that saw them win only twice in their previous nine games, Espirito Santo’s career looks to be in jeopardy due to a run of bad performances, in addition to an argument with star striker Karim Benzema.
Ali Jasim’s strike in the 44th minute put Al Ittihad behind Iraqi Premier League team Al Quwa Al Jawiya 1-0 in the AFC Champions League.
Additionally, Benzema apparently yelled at his boss after Espirito Santo expressed his opinions on the show, and obscenities were exchanged.
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“Tempers became more heated than necessary” on Monday, according to a report from Spanish outlet Revelo, when Espirito Santo expressed his emotions during a half-time team talk.
“The ex-Madridista is much more than the star of the team,” the report reads. “His power extends off the field.
“In the locker room, in front of the rest of the players, the coach and captain shouted at each other, and it went a little beyond the normal tension of these moments.”
The “best way” to terminate Espirito Santo’s employment at the Palace of King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah is reportedly being considered by the Al Ittihad board.
The Saudi Pro League team is being linked to Jose Mourinho, but it seems they want to choose a French coach in order to appease players like N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.