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Sergio Conceicao has parted ways with Al-Ittihad following a brief stint in the Saudi Pro League. The former FC Porto manager reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract after falling short in the league title race against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, ending a disappointing season for the Jeddah-based club that failed to meet its high expectations.

Mutual decision to part ways

As reported by the Portuguese outlet A Bola, Conceicao will be leaving Al-Ittihad. The ex-Porto boss, renowned for his high-tempo and tactically disciplined football, departs despite still having a year left on his contract.

The decision to end the partnership came after discussions between the 51-year-old coach and the club’s management. For several weeks, speculation had been mounting about his future as Al-Ittihad struggled for form towards the end of the campaign. An official statement confirming his exit is expected to be released shortly.

Trailing Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr

The main reason for the split appears to be the team’s failure to contend for the championship. Conceicao was brought in with the goal of bringing Al-Ittihad back to the top of Saudi football, but the club could not keep up with the league’s dominant sides, particularly the eventual champions Al-Nassr.

Al-Ittihad wrapped up their season in fifth place with 55 points, a massive 22 points behind fourth-placed Al-Qadsiah and 31 points adrift of title winners Al-Nassr. Their continental journey also ended prematurely in the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals, where they were knocked out by Japan’s Machida Zelvia, who later fell short in the final.

Benzema’s mid-season exit

Conceicao’s spell at King Abdullah Sports City was further complicated by internal instability and significant changes within the squad. The biggest setback came during the winter transfer window when star striker and captain Karim Benzema engineered a shock move to fierce rivals Al Hilal. Losing his key attacking leader disrupted Conceicao’s tactical plans, and the Portuguese manager managed only 22 wins from 42 matches across all competitions.

Future plans for the Tigers

With Conceicao’s departure finalised, Al-Ittihad’s management, headed by CEO Domingos Soares de Oliveira – formerly of Benfica – has turned its attention to finding a new head coach. The leadership is intent on bringing in a high-profile manager capable of revamping the squad and mounting a serious title challenge in the coming season.

For Conceicao, the exit opens up opportunities ahead of the European pre-season, with several major clubs expected to keep a close watch on his availability.