Sabri Lamouchi Named New Al Diriyah SC Head Coach on Two-Year Deal

Sabri Lamouchi is the new head coach of Al Diriyah SC, signing a two-year deal with the Saudi Pro League club. He leaves Al Riyadh to join Al Diriyah, a fast-growing team backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

WHAT HAPPENED?

Al Diriyah SC is now a big project in Saudi football, thanks to PIF funding, and they’ve hired Sabri Lamouchi. The French coach, who had just joined Al Riyadh, decided to take this new challenge despite interest from clubs in Qatar and the UAE. His agent negotiated the deal, and Lamouchi said Al Diriyah’s ambitious vision made him choose them.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LAMOUCHI’S MOVE

Al Diriyah hiring Lamouchi shows ambition. The club has new resources and is grown in status, aiming to compete with the best in Saudi football. Lamouchi has experience from Europe and made a notable impact at Al Riyadh, where he became head coach last summer. His departure is a setback for Al Riyadh, who now must find another manager during a tough season.

WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR AL DIRIYAH AND LAMOUCHI?

With Lamouchi in charge, Al Diriyah plans to climb the Saudi Pro League standings. They finished last season in 12th place, safe from relegation but far from the top six. Their first game with Lamouchi is against Al Raed, who were two spots higher last season. Expectations are high for Al Diriyah to improve, while Al Riyadh starts searching for a new coach with the new season approaching. The Saudi Pro League season restarts on September 21, marking a fresh start for all teams involved.