Al-Ittihad open talks with Santiago Solari over head coach role

Al-Ittihad have initiated talks with Santiago Solari, positioning the former Real Madrid and Club América manager among the leading candidates to take charge. The club’s search has accelerated as they push for a reset in the Saudi Pro League and continental competition, with Solari’s elite pedigree and player-management track record viewed as a strong fit. While no agreement is finalized, momentum is building and timelines are expected to be quick. With a squad stacked with proven winners and a project hungry for structure and identity, Solari’s name is now firmly at the front of the conversation as Al-Ittihad zero in on their next boss.

Al-Ittihad are advancing their managerial shortlist and have opened discussions with Santiago Solari, who coached Real Madrid to the 2018 Club World Cup and later led Club América. The Jeddah giants are moving swiftly after a turbulent period and underwhelming returns relative to squad quality, aiming to lock in a clear tactical identity before the next competitive cycle. Alongside Solari, other widely-circulating names have been floated by observers, with the club evaluating experience, adaptability to the Saudi Pro League, and ability to handle a high-profile dressing room. Talks are active, and a decision window is expected to narrow soon as preseason planning looms.

🚨 NEW: Al-Ittihad have opened talks with Santiago Solari. He’s one of the candidates to become their new manager. @Santi_J_FM

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Solari offers a blend of elite dressing-room management and adaptable structures that align with Al-Ittihad’s needs. At Real Madrid, he demonstrated the capacity to steady a high-pressure environment, lean into a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid, and empower wingers while preserving midfield control. His tenure at Club América showcased a pragmatic side: compact mid-blocks, quick rest-defence organization, and defined pressing triggers after turnovers. Those principles translate well to the Saudi Pro League, where transitions are frequent and individual quality can tilt matches decisively.

With a spine built around experienced winners, Solari could immediately impose clarity: a disciplined double-pivot when game-state demands, or a single-holding midfielder with two advanced eights to dominate territory. The existing squad profile suits vertical wide play and decisive box occupation, areas where Solari has consistently demanded efficiency. Crucially, his player development streak—trusting young, dynamic profiles while leaning on senior leaders—fits a group that needs both freshness and hierarchy.

Off the pitch, Solari’s brand amplifies Al-Ittihad’s international footprint. A manager with European and North American experience boosts recruitment pull, commercial appeal in Spanish-speaking markets, and overall credibility in Asia. Operationally, the club must align on backroom staff, sports science integration, and data support—domains Solari has leaned on more in recent years. If the club supplies those structures, the tactical upside and cultural reset could be immediate.

Reaction

Social chatter split into enthusiastic endorsements and wary pushback. A vocal segment is thrilled to see Solari back on a top-stage, calling it a smart, upward move and labeling him a “top option” with “Real Madrid DNA.” Others are bluntly skeptical—“Solari nooooooo”—questioning whether he’s the transformative figure the project needs. One camp frames the Saudi Pro League as the right platform for Solari to cash in and compete; another wonders what became of other rumored names, with Laurent Blanc repeatedly invoked as a benchmark alternative. A few users even tossed out left-field suggestions like Ruben Amorim, while some pleaded not to lose Solari to the Gulf, a sign of lingering admiration from past fanbases.

The thread’s tone ping-pongs between pragmatic and emotional: supporters highlight Solari’s calm presence, proven man-management, and capacity to organize big personalities; detractors point to inconsistencies in previous stints and argue for a more “sure-thing” appointment. Noise typical of viral posts—off-topic star quotes and match-night flexes—adds to the swirl, but the core sentiment lands here: Solari is a credible candidate, the conversation feels serious, and many believe the fit with Al-Ittihad’s roster and ambitions could click fast if terms align.

Social reactions

What Happened to Blanc?

Lesric (@nemidudulmira1)

He deserves to make some money in the Saudi 🇸🇦 Pro League.

RealMadridDude (@RealMadridDude)

No No No, please dont let him go!

black (@FnFrede)

Prediction

Trajectory favors progress. Expect another round of talks to lock down vision, staffing, and performance metrics. If alignment lands on contract length (likely 18–24 months with options), recruitment levers (one to two immediate-impact signings), and a clear pre-season calendar, a swift agreement is realistic. In that primary scenario, Solari arrives, installs a compact-possession blueprint, and prioritizes structure in the middle third and quick wide overloads—seeking fast, tangible improvements in game control and chance quality.

Scenario B: if negotiations stall on staffing autonomy or KPIs, Al-Ittihad may pivot to a parallel candidate with similar experience managing big names. Laurent Blanc remains a reference point in discussions around experience, though not necessarily an active favorite. Scenario C: an interim bridge if timing gets tight, but that would be a last resort given squad status and commercial imperatives.

Most indicators, however, tilt optimistic. The project needs a composed figurehead with global cachet and tactical clarity; Solari checks those boxes. Expect movement within days rather than weeks, a medical and work-permit process queued quickly, and early training ground sessions focused on defensive distances, rest-defense configurations, and crisp attacking patterns.

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Conclusion

Al-Ittihad’s intent is unmistakable: bring in a modern, bilingual organizer with big-club muscle memory and immediate dressing-room credibility. Santiago Solari embodies that profile. He won’t chase chaos with novelty; he’ll impose order with repetition, clarity, and a flexible 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 that accentuates the squad’s strengths. The fan debate—between star aura and tactical assurance—misses the middle ground Solari naturally occupies: calm control, clean structures, and a steady hand under pressure.

There’s still a contract to finalize and support staff to map, but the direction of travel is positive. If the club provides the right tools—analysts, fitness conditioning, and targeted recruitment—Solari’s ceiling in the Saudi Pro League is high. For a team craving identity and consistency, this is the kind of appointment that can reset standards immediately and power a credible domestic and continental push.