Odion Ighalo To Play Under New Coach In 2023-24 Saudi Pro Season

Odion Ighalo To Play Under New Coach In 2023-24 Saudi Pro Season

By Gbenga Gboyega

Pending a renewal or an end to Odion Ighalo's contract status at Al Hilal, the Saudi Pro Club has announced the re-appointment of Jorge Jesus as the new head coach for the 2023-24 season, BSN Sports reports.

The re-appointment of the 63-year-old Argentine came shortly after former coach - Ramón Diaz opted to step down from his role, after winning the King Cup final against Al-Wehda in May 2023, to be with his family following the death of his wife two months earlier in a car accident.

Following his appointment in June 2018, Jorge Jesus' first stint at Al Hilal six years ago only lasted six months, but saw an excellent showing by his team.

Jorge consecutively won his first 13 games, before managing four more games without defeat to cap up a 17-game unbeaten run, before eventually losing to Al Hazem.

Although Al Hilal's loss to Al Hazem in December of that year ended the team's streak, Jorge won his remaining seven games up till January 2019 when he was sacked by the chairman on 26 January 2019 following contractual disagreements.

After Al Hilal's contact with Italy's Roma head coach Jose Mourinho and Juventus' Massimiliano Allegri for the role, Jorge won the bid.

And should Odion Ighalo sign a new deal with the Saudi Pro club, he will play under the former Benfica manager who arrived from Turkey's Fenerbahce.