Al-Ittihad parted ways with Laurent Blanc: why the champion coach was dismissed after 4 matches.

Dismissal of Laurent Blanc as Al-Ittihad's coach

According to The Sun: Al-Ittihad club dismissed coach Laurent Blanc after just four matches in the new season, despite the team winning two titles last year.

59-year-old Blanc took charge of the team in 2024, and under his leadership, Al-Ittihad won the championship and the King's Cup.

Al-Ittihad fired coach Laurent Blanc despite winning the championship last season Jean Catuffe/Getty Images Blanc enjoyed significant success as a player at clubs like Manchester United PAUL BARKER/AFP via Getty Images

Under Blanc's guidance, Al-Ittihad won three of their four opening matches of the new season. However, the club decided to part ways with him after a 0-2 defeat to Al-Nassr on Friday.

Additionally, the team lost in the semifinals of the Saudi Super Cup to Cristiano Ronaldo's team.

AL-Ittihad issued the following statement: “Al-Ittihad announces the termination of its contractual relationship with the first team’s head coach, Mr. Laurent Blanc and his coaching staff.”

The club also emphasized that it is looking for “a new coaching staff that aligns with the club's ambitions.”

Laurent Blanc has achieved a great deal in his nearly 50-year career in football as both a player and a coach.

He represented clubs such as Napoli, Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Manchester United, becoming a world champion in 1998 and winning Euro 2000 with France, with 97 appearances for the national team.

With Montpellier, he won the French Cup, and with Auxerre, he won Ligue 1. He also won two Cup Winners' Cups and the King's Cup with Barcelona.

Blanc spent two years at Manchester United, ending his career in 2003 with a Premier League title.

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Since transitioning to coaching in 2007, Blanc has led such significant teams as the French national team and Paris Saint-Germain.

He won Ligue 1 with Bordeaux in 2009, and also became champion three times under PSG.

In 2019, Blanc mentioned that he was among the candidates for the Manchester United coach position, considered a potential replacement for Jose Mourinho. Ultimately, the club chose Ole Gunnar Solskjær for the interim role.

With his extensive experience and significant contributions to the world of football, Laurent Blanc will be remembered as one of the most outstanding players and coaches of modern times.