- Al Ittihad sacked Laurent Blanc after four league games this season.
- Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Al Nassr, with goals from Ronaldo and Mané, sealed his fate.
- Blanc had won the Saudi Pro League with Al Ittihad last season.
- His side suffered an early AFC Champions League loss to Al Wahda, adding pressure.
- Blanc cited defensive injuries and fixture congestion as challenges.
- Assistant coach Hassan Khalifa replaces him ahead of the Shabab Al Ahli clash.
- Blanc’s past managerial roles include PSG, Lyon, Bordeaux, and France’s national team.
Laurent Blanc’s reign at Al Ittihad has come to an abrupt end, with the club sacking the French coach after just four league matches into the new Saudi Pro League season.
The decision came swiftly after a 2-0 defeat at home to Al Nassr on Friday, September 26, 2025, where Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané struck to keep their side’s perfect start intact.
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Ronaldo’s goal, his 98th for Al Nassr, sealed the victory and simultaneously marked Blanc’s final game in charge.
Assistant coach Hassan Khalifa has been promoted to take temporary charge, beginning with the club’s AFC Champions League tie against Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE on Tuesday.
Blanc had guided Al Ittihad to their 14th league crown last season and opened the new campaign with three consecutive wins.
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But cracks began to show following a shock AFC Champions League defeat to Al Wahda, which raised concerns about the team’s form and defensive vulnerabilities.
Despite boasting nine straight league victories before Friday’s loss, Blanc found himself under pressure as key injuries hit his squad.
The Frenchman admitted after the match that his backline was stretched thin, but his explanations failed to buy him more time.
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Blanc, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, now leaves the Saudi champions less than 15 months after his appointment.
His managerial résumé includes stints with Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon, Al Rayyan, and a spell in charge of the French national team between 2010 and 2012.
