Jens Wissing: Al-Ittihad turn to German coach they ‘know well’ after trophyless season

Al-Ittihad’s chief executive has described the appointment of German coach Jens Wissing as a “vital” part of the club’s rebuild, after the Saudi Pro League side endured a season without silverware under former boss Sergio Conceicao.

The Jeddah club confirmed Wissing as head coach of the first team for the coming campaign, replacing Portuguese coach Conceicao, who was dismissed at the end of last season following his failure to deliver any titles.

In a video message published on Al-Ittihad’s official X account, CEO Domingos Soares explained why the club has moved for the relatively young German, who most recently made his name in Asian football.

“اختيار مدربنا السيد ينز فيسينج كان مهما جدا، وجزءا اساسيا من التحضير للموسم الجديد,” Soares said, emphasising that Wissing’s arrival is central to the club’s new project.

‘We know him, he is very talented and ambitious’

Soares stressed that Wissing is not an unknown quantity to the Al-Ittihad hierarchy, highlighting his qualities and their previous working relationship.

He continued: “نعرف السيد فيسينج منذ فترة، وعملت معه في الماضي، نعلم انه مدرب شاب وموهوب جدا وطموح، ولديه رغبة قوية في النجاح مع نادي الاتحاد”.

The appointment signals a strategic shift by Al-Ittihad towards a coach regarded as progressive and upwardly mobile, following the dismissal of the more established Conceicao.

The club, which has attracted global attention in recent seasons with high-profile signings and investment, will now pin its hopes on Wissing to restore competitiveness domestically and in continental competitions after a disappointing campaign.

International backroom staff blended with Saudi coaches

Soares also underlined the importance of the backroom team being assembled around the new head coach, describing it as a deliberate mix of international and local expertise.

He said: “اما بالنسبة للجهاز الفني الذي معه، فهو مزيج من المدربين المساعدين الدوليين من مناطق مختلفة، وايضا مع المدربين السعوديين”.

That hybrid structure, combining foreign assistants from several regions with Saudi coaches, is designed to marry modern methods with local knowledge and culture inside the dressing room.

“ان تكامل هذه المهارات ياخذنا الى مستوى جديد، واعتقد انه المستوى الصحيح لتحقيق النتايج الصحيحة في الاسابيع والاشهر القادمة,” Soares added, expressing confidence that the coaching blend will quickly translate into improved performances.

Asian success with Gamba Osaka

Wissing’s most notable success to date has come in Asia, a key factor in Al-Ittihad’s decision to hire him.

The 41-year-old enjoyed the standout spell of his coaching career in the second half of last season, when he led Japan’s Gamba Osaka to the AFC Champions League 2 title for the first time in the club’s history.

The triumph was secured with a victory over Saudi side Al-Nassr in the final, a result that will not have gone unnoticed by his new employers and Saudi fans.

That continental experience – and his familiarity with Asian football, travel demands and pressure scenarios – is regarded within Al-Ittihad as a major asset as the club aims to reassert itself in both the Saudi Pro League and Asian competitions.

Pressure to deliver immediate results

Wissing will step into one of the most demanding roles in the region, taking over a team with a passionate fan base and ambitious owners expecting a swift return to winning trophies.

After a season without titles under Conceicao, Al-Ittihad’s hierarchy has framed Wissing’s appointment as part of a broader reset, with Soares repeatedly linking the new coaching structure to “the right level” required for “the right results” in the coming weeks and months.

With investment in star players and rising expectations across the Saudi Pro League, the German coach faces an immediate test: turn Al-Ittihad’s renewed sense of direction off the pitch into sustained success on it.