The Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab has officially announced the departure of its head coach, Imanol Aguacil. The decision, marking a premature end to his tenure, comes after a period of negotiations culminating in a mutual agreement to terminate his contract. Aguacil, who had arrived in Saudi Arabia last summer, was under contract for a total of two years, a deal valued at over 15 million euros. However, having served only a little over six months of that agreement, his time at the helm has been abruptly concluded.
Despite having a year and a half remaining on his contract, the parties reached a settlement. As part of the termination accord, the Spanish coach will receive a substantial portion of the compensation owed for the remaining 18 months. This financial arrangement facilitated a clean break, avoiding a protracted dispute and allowing the club to immediately seek a new direction.
A Tenure Cut Short by Underwhelming Performances
The primary catalyst for this managerial change was the team’s consistently poor form under Aguacil’s leadership. The final straw proved to be a demoralizing 2-5 defeat at the hands of Al Ahli, a result that severely jeopardized the club’s standing. This heavy loss pushed Al Shabab perilously close to the relegation zone, creating an untenable situation for the club’s hierarchy. The combination of disappointing results and the looming threat of a drop in the league standings provided sufficient justification for the board to act decisively and end his project.