Saudi powerhouse Al-Ittihad have terminated the contract of French coach Laurent Blanc, the club announced on Sunday, following Friday’s 2-0 disappointing defeat to Al-Nassr in the fourth round of the Saudi Pro league.
In a statement shared on X, Al-Ittihad confirmed, “We announce the termination of our contractual relationship with head coach Mr. Laurent Blanc and his coaching staff.” The club also revealed that Blanc’s assistant Hassan Khalifa will serve as caretaker coach until further notice. Furthermore, they are actively searching for “new technical staff that matches the club’s ambitions.”
📝 | Termination of contract with first football team’s head coach pic.twitter.com/fkWmZdnNeB
— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) September 27, 2025
Blanc’s Tenure and Achievements
The 59-year-old esteemed tactician took charge of Al-Ittihad in July of last year, successfully guiding them to a highly impressive domestic double championship victory. Significantly, the team captured both the prestigious league title and the respected King’s Cup trophy during his relatively short but impactful tenure in Jeddah.
However, the team’s success quickly deteriorated, beginning the new season by exiting the Saudi Super Cup tournament early after losing to Al-Nassr. Moreover, Al-Ittihad suffered this second painful defeat to the Riyadh-based team in the league on Friday, consequently dropping them into third place in the league standings, trailing the current league leaders Al-Nassr by three points and sit one short of second-placed Al-Qadsiah.
Blanc enjoyed a distinguished playing career as a centre-back, representing clubs such as Marseille, Inter Milan, and Manchester United. He was part of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning squad but missed the final after receiving a red card in the semi-final against Croatia.
Blanc returned to manage the French national team in 2010, leading them to the quarter-finals at Euro 2012 before being replaced by Didier Deschamps. His tenure at Paris Saint-Germain from 2014 to 2016 saw him secure three Ligue 1 titles. Unfortunately, his inability to make a significant impact in the Champions League led to his departure in 2016.
