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Saudi Pro League

·16 July 2026

A new season brings new ambitions, and several clubs in the Roshn Saudi League have opted for managerial changes as they seek renewed direction and success.

Here’s a detailed look at the eight head coaches aiming to inject fresh energy into their teams ahead of the 2026-27 RSL campaign.

The most high-profile appointment of the off-season is the arrival of the former Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur boss, who steps into the Al Nassr hot seat following Jorge Jesus’s departure after just one campaign – a season in which he famously ended the club’s seven-year wait for an RSL title.

Postecoglou has built a reputation for “always winning in his second season,” but with a championship to defend and an already star-studded squad likely to be strengthened further, supporters will be eager to see if he can deliver immediate success.

Known for his relentlessly attacking brand of football, Al Nassr promise to be one of the most entertaining teams to watch this season.

Inspired by the success their city rivals Al Ahli achieved under a young German coach, Al Ittihad have followed suit by recruiting Wissing from AFC Champions League Two winners Gamba Osaka.

The parallels between Wissing and Matthias Jaissle are striking. Both are 38 years old, both honed their craft within the Red Bull setup at Red Bull Salzburg, and they even faced off in the Bundesliga as players.

Interestingly, Wissing once served as assistant to Thomas Letsch at Red Bull Salzburg – and Letsch has now taken charge of Al Shabab.

The experienced German becomes the fifth manager to take over at Al Shabab in just two years, a carousel the Riyadh club hopes will finally come to a halt.

Having managed across Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands, Letsch adds another link to the Red Bull lineage, having previously worked with both Red Bull Salzburg and their affiliate, FC Liefering.

He already has a small taste of Saudi football, having faced Al Hilal with Salzburg at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup, where his side managed a goalless draw in Washington.

After sealing promotion to the RSL for the first time in their history, Al Diriyah are aiming to make a strong impression – and appointing Bruno Lage sends a clear signal of their intentions.

The 50-year-old Portuguese coach arrives after two successful spells with Benfica, in addition to a period in the Premier League managing Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he once earned the Manager of the Month award.

It was during his time in England that Lage managed a young Ruben Neves, now starring for Al Hilal in the Saudi top flight.

Former Benfica boss Bruno Lage is the man chosen to guide Al Diriyah through their historic debut RSL campaign.

Another manager making the move to Saudi Arabia from Japan is Papas, who impressed greatly in the 100-Year Vision League by guiding Cerezo Osaka to a third-place finish.

The Australian is already familiar with Al Ettifaq, having served as assistant to Dutch coach Eelco Schattorie during the latter stages of the 2016-17 season, when the pair helped the club avoid relegation.

A former assistant to Postecoglou, Papas joins Wissing and Thomas Letsch as another from the “Red Bull school,” and he will now face his former mentor in the dugout this season.

Replacing Pericles Chamusca at Al Taawoun is no small challenge, given the Brazilian’s accomplishments over two spells with the club.

This year, that responsibility falls to Serbian coach Lazetic, who joins after a triumphant run with Maccabi Tel Aviv. During his tenure, he captured the domestic league in his debut season, led the team into the UEFA Europa League, and finished third the following year.

That European experience could be crucial as Al Taawoun balance domestic commitments with their AFC Champions League Two campaign.

Although Brazilian coach Carille was unable to prevent Damac’s relegation last season – having been given just 14 matches – that did not deter Al Fayha from appointing him as their new manager to replace Pedro Emanuel.

At 52, Carille brings considerable experience, including prior RSL stints. He has managed Damac, Al Wehda in 2018, and Al Ittihad between 2020 and 2021, where he led the Jeddah giants to third and then second place finishes. His pedigree is undeniable.

Meanwhile, Gomes returns to familiar territory, replacing Gus Poyet, who had stepped in temporarily after Georgios Donis departed to take charge of the Saudi Arabia national team.

Gomes has a long-standing connection with Saudi football, having led Al Taawoun in three separate spells and also enjoying a short stint at Al Ahli.

His most recent position was at Al Fateh, where he remarkably steered the club away from relegation danger in the 2024-25 RSL season, before guiding them to an 11th-place finish the following year.