Donis: My focus is on Al-Ahly... and the Saudi league has become stronger globally
In exclusive statements to Okaz, Greek coach Giorgos Donis, the new technical director of the Saudi national football team, stressed that his complete focus is currently on developing the performance of the "Green Falcons" and conveying his technical philosophy to the players, in preparation for upcoming competitions, most notably the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Donis indicated that it is still too early to talk about evaluating the World Cup draw, while emphasizing his respect for all competitors.
Donis' background and history with Saudi football
Giorgos Donis's return to Saudi football comes through the national team after a successful career with several local clubs, giving him a deep understanding of the Saudi player environment. Donis previously coached Al-Hilal, achieving notable success, and also managed Al-Fateh and Al-Wehda, gaining extensive experience in the Saudi Professional League. This prior knowledge of the players and the local competition is a crucial factor in his current role, as he stated: “I have previous experience in the Saudi League, and I follow all the matches. In the three weeks since signing the contract, I have watched many games, firstly to be fair to the players, and secondly to be fair to myself and my tactical ideas.”.
The importance and impact of the current stage
This period holds strategic importance for Saudi football, which is experiencing a historic boom as part of the goals of Vision 2030. With the Saudi Professional League attracting top international stars, the quality of competition has risen significantly, a fact praised by Donis, who said: “The competition in the Saudi league is much stronger than before.” This development not only benefits the clubs but also raises the level of Saudi players and increases their readiness for international competitions. Donis added: “It’s wonderful to see this development in the level of the Saudi league, and it will be even better when we see more Saudi players representing the national team.”.
Strategy for building a competitive team
Donis explained that his absolute priority is building a strong and cohesive team, noting that he hasn't yet had enough time to work with the players as required. He said, "My current priority is developing the team, and so far I haven't worked enough with the players. This is a very important period for us to convey our ideas and try to be strong competitors in the World Cup." He emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the advantage of playing on home soil, considering it a potential advantage for the team. He continued, "We have the advantage of playing at home, and there might be pressure, but with our experience, we can turn this pressure into strength during the matches and fight one game after another to reach the final.".
Donis concluded his remarks by emphasizing his complete neutrality as the national team coach, refusing to belittle any team in the league, saying: “I respect all clubs, I follow everyone, and I don’t want to give a personal opinion about any club because I represent the national team.”.
