September 17, (THEWILL) – Al Nassr have announced the departure of Portuguese coach, Luis Castro, following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Iraq’s Al Shorta in their AFC Champions League Elite campaign opener. The decision comes amid a slow start to the domestic season, with the team drawing twice in three matches.
Castro’s exit marks the third coaching change since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in early 2023. The Portuguese superstar, now 39, has yet to win a Saudi trophy with the club, his only silverware being the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup. Ronaldo’s current contract, reportedly worth €400 million over two-and-a-half years, is set to expire in the summer of 2025.
The club expressed gratitude for Castro’s 14-month tenure in a statement posted on the social media platform, X. Previous coaches, Rudi Garcia and Dinko Jelicic, also had brief stints with the team following Ronaldo’s arrival. Al Nassr finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season, significantly behind the champions.
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 sparked a wave of high-profile signings by Saudi clubs, including Neymar and Karim Benzema. This influx of talent has raised the profile of Saudi football on the global stage, attracting attention from fans and media worldwide.
Al Nassr’s pursuit of improved performances both domestically and in international competitions will mean that the search for a new head coach will be crucial. The club’s next appointment will face the challenge of maximising the potential of their star-studded squad and delivering the trophies that have so far eluded them since Ronaldo’s arrival.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
