Veteran Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus has brought a new and exciting chapter to a close in his career in Saudi football, after Al-Nassr officially announced they would not be renewing his contract. This concludes the journey of a coach who generated as much controversy as he garnered titles, leaving an indelible mark across three coaching stints with the two Riyadh giants, Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, never leaving without lifting at least one trophy.
General context: The Saudi League revolution
Jesus's journey in Saudi football comes at a time of historic growth for the Kingdom. With the launch of the investment and privatization project for sports clubs, backed by the Public Investment Fund, the Saudi Professional League has become a destination for some of the world's top players and coaches. In this highly competitive environment, Jesus, who boasts an impressive track record with major clubs like Benfica in Portugal and Flamengo in Brazil (where he led them to victory in the Copa Libertadores), has emerged as one of the leading figures capable of guiding top clubs toward their new ambitions.
First stop: “scribbling” and a sudden departure from Al-Hilal
Jesus's story in Saudi Arabia began with Al-Hilal in the 2018-2019 season. Despite a strong start, leading the team to the Saudi Super Cup title and delivering outstanding performances that propelled them to the top of the league standings, his departure came as a surprise and a shock to the sports community. That period was marked by the infamous statement of the club's then-president, Prince Mohammed bin Faisal, who described the coach's work as "scribbling on a blackboard," a remark that sparked widespread controversy and remains etched in memory, especially since Al-Hilal fans were eager for him to stay.
A triumphant comeback: a historic treble and a world record
Jesus returned to Al-Hilal in the summer of 2023 with a completely different approach, leading the team through an exceptional season that stands as the most successful in the club's history. The Portuguese coach achieved a domestic treble (Saudi Pro League, King's Cup, and Saudi Super Cup) without a single league defeat. More importantly, he guided the team to break the world record for the longest winning streak in football history, recording 34 consecutive victories – an achievement that earned Al-Hilal a place in the Guinness World Records and brought widespread international recognition to the Saudi Pro League.
Victory challenge: Bringing Ronaldo back to the podium and the end of the journey
His final stint was with arch-rival Al-Nassr, whom he joined with the mission of restoring the team to its former glory. Although his time there wasn't as illustrious as his second spell with Al-Hilal, he did manage to win the King Salman Cup for Arab Clubs, bringing global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo back to the winner's podium for the first time in the "Global" jersey. However, both domestically and continentally, the team couldn't keep pace with Al-Hilal, and his tenure ended with his departure, leaving fans divided on how to evaluate his experience.
Legacy and impact: Local success and continental failure
Jorge Jesus leaves Saudi football with a complex legacy. Despite his remarkable domestic successes and record-breaking achievements, the AFC Champions League curse continues to haunt him, as he failed to lead both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr to the most coveted continental title. Jesus remains a controversial figure, a coach with a sharp tactical mind and a strong personality who succeeded in leaving his mark on Saudi football and intensifying the competition, but his record will always be incomplete without the long-awaited continental triumph.
