The Spaniard was offered a contract until 2026
Spanish specialist Julen Lopetegui close to being appointed head coach Al-Ittihad. The club from Saudi Arabia offered the coach a contract until 2026.
Lopetegui left Wolverhampton in August. The coach was dissatisfied with the club’s policy. Julen had previously been linked with a move to Villarreal, who were once again without a coach.
Al Ittihad parted ways with coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who has been with the club since the summer of 2022 and led them to the 2022/23 league title. Among the candidates for the post of new coach of the club from Jeddah was the Portuguese Paulo Sousa, who played in Serie A in the 90s, including for Inter Milan. Al Ittihad also offered the post of director to former Milan technical director Paolo Maldini.
Al-Ittihad, under the leadership of interim coach Hassan Khalifa, ended a five-match winless streak in the championship, beating Abha club (4:2) with a hat-trick from Karim Benzema. According to rumors, it was the conflict with the winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or that became one of the main reasons for the dismissal of Espirito Santo.
Source: Sportarena
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