Sports · Football · 2 hrs ago
Former Al-Ittihad coach Sérgio Conceição criticises working conditions in Saudi Arabia
Former Al-Ittihad coach Sérgio Conceição has criticised working practices during his time in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League.
He said some Saudi players missed training or struggled to attend morning sessions, which he found difficult to accept.
He said Karim Benzema and Fabinho were not the source of the problems he faced at the club.
Conceição linked the challenges to differences in work culture and the conditions for training, rather than to the foreign stars’ experience.
He said signing overseas talent alone cannot improve the league without a workplace that lets coaches apply their methods.
He also warned that relying heavily on foreign players could reduce local players’ responsibility and affect the national team.
Conceição admitted money was a main reason he took the job, while thanking the club and Saudi Arabia for welcoming him and his family; he has since left Al-Ittihad.
Former Al-Ittihad coach Sérgio Conceição criticised working conditions and what he described as a lack of discipline among some Saudi players.
He said some players missed training or struggled to attend morning sessions, making it difficult for him to impose his approach.
Conceição said foreign stars Karim Benzema and Fabinho were not the main problem, and linked his difficulties to other people and working conditions at the club.
He acknowledged that financial terms were a major reason he accepted the job.
He also thanked Al-Ittihad and Saudi Arabia for welcoming him and his family.
- Who
- Sérgio Conceição, former coach of Saudi club Al-Ittihad.
- What
- He criticised working conditions and the discipline of some local players. He said foreign stars including Karim Benzema and Fabinho were not the main problem.
- When
- His comments were reported on October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Al-Ittihad and Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- He said differences in work culture and daily conditions made it difficult to apply the approach he had used in Europe.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Conceição left his Al-Ittihad post after a season in which the club did not win the titles it had sought.
News outlets reported Conceição’s criticism of his experience at Al-Ittihad and in Saudi Arabia.
- Former club
- Al-Ittihad
- Former coach
- Sérgio Conceição
- Foreign players mentioned
- Karim Benzema and Fabinho
- Reported publication date
- October 18, 2026
- Reason for accepting the job
- Conceição said financial terms were a major reason.
3 sources
What people are saying
I have to thank the country (Saudi Arabia) and the club (Al-Ittihad), because they welcomed me and my family very warmly.
Sometimes there were Saudi players who did not come to training, because a relative was ill or for a religious reason, such as waking up at five in the morning to pray, and other things.
If we had a training session in the morning, there were Saudis who did not come, and because of my nature, it was really difficult to accept.
The Saudi player lives comfortably, because there are foreign players who will take responsibility for them; that suits them perfectly.