SPL powerhouse Al-Ittihad hire German coach Jens Wissing on two-year contract

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad have appointed German coach Jens Wissing as their new head coach on a two-year contract until 2028, the club announced on Friday.
Wissing replaces Portuguese Sergio Conceicao, who left the club after a disappointing 2025-26 season for the winners of the 2024-25 season.
Al-Ittihad finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League, ending up 31 points behind champions Al-Nassr after suffering 11 losses.

German coach Jens Wissing is Al-Ittihad head coach until 2028 #WelcomeWissing pic.twitter.com/HA7FfrYRnx

— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) July 10, 2026

The 38-year-old coach, who is considered one of the world’s best young coaching talents, previously managed the 2026 AFC Champions League winners, Japanese side Gamba Osaka.
In a statement released on social media, Al-Ittihad said sporting director Frank Capo expressed “full confidence in his ability to lead the team during the next chapter.”
In a signing ceremony held in Jeddah, Wissing expressed his hope to lead a new project to bring the team back to competing for all titles next season.
He said: “Every beginning carries a challenge, and this is the challenge that I chose. From the first moment, I realized the prestige of this club and the magnitude of the responsibility that this emblem carries.”

From Day One to Number One#WelcomeWissing pic.twitter.com/pGBIPFGLTq

— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) July 10, 2026

He added: “I believe that challenges lead to the greatest achievements, and our goal is to build a team worthy of Al-Ittihad and that fulfills the aspirations of its great fans. I am here to take on this challenge with all my passion, but this journey will not be complete without you.”
The team began its preparations under the supervision of Hassan