The Spanish coach’s tenure at Al Shabab has concluded abruptly, mere months after his high-profile arrival this past summer. Imanol Alguacil has departed the Saudi Arabian club following a period marred by persistent doubts and a string of unsatisfactory performances, as reported by our news site.
His adventure in Saudi Arabia has lasted less than half a year. The final blow appears to have been a devastating 2-5 defeat at the hands of Al Ahli, a result that encapsulated the team’s struggles. Now hovering perilously close to the relegation zone, the Riyadh-based squad stands as one of the season’s most significant disappointments.
A Failed Project in Riyadh
Despite boasting talents such as Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, who was heralded as the squad’s marquee star, Al Shabab has consistently failed to gain any meaningful momentum throughout the entire first half of the campaign. The team’s form never truly took flight, leaving the project grounded.
For Imanol Alguacil, this premature exit marks a stark contrast to his previous chapter. He arrived in Saudi Arabia having just concluded a substantial and successful seven-season spell at the helm of Real Sociedad, a period that had solidified his reputation. His dismissal from Al Shabab therefore represents an untimely and unsuccessful conclusion to what was anticipated to be a promising new endeavor.