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Pioli to Succeed Gallardo at Al-Ittihad Jeddah

Al-Ittihad Jeddah Club are working hard to appoint a new technical director to lead the team in preparation for the upcoming season, following the departure of Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo.

According to “Okaz” newspaper, Al-Ittihad is very close to signing Italian coach Stefano Pioli. It has been reported that Pioli has agreed to the terms of the contract, waiting for the final signing with the “Al-Amid” management.

The club had considered both Pioli and Portuguese coach Marco Silva, currently with Fulham. However, Silva did not express interest in the offer presented to him.

Meanwhile, “Al-Sharq Al-Awsat” newspaper reported that Al-Ittihad Sports Director Ramon Blanes prefers Pioli over other candidates, viewing him as the most suitable option to lead the team next season.

The 58-year-old former Italian defender won the Serie A title with AC Milan in the 2021-2022 season and the Italian Super Cup in 2022. He continued with the Italian team until the end of the 2023-2024 season when he was relieved of his duties.

During his tenure at Milan, Pioli led the team in 240 matches, achieving a 54 percent win rate. His record includes 130 victories, 58 draws, and 52 losses. Under his management, Milan scored 421 goals and conceded 270.

Throughout his career, Pioli has managed 13 clubs, including prominent teams such as Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Lazio, as well as several other Italian clubs across different divisions.

If the deal goes through, Pioli is expected to begin his duties with Al-Ittihad starting with the training camp on July 12 in Spain, followed by a move to Portugal on July 26 for the second part of the camp.

The team has scheduled several friendly matches, including two notable fixtures against Andalusian giants. The first match will be on July 26 against Sevilla at the “Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan” stadium for the “Antonio Puerta” Cup. The second match will take place on August 3 against Real Betis at Benito Villamarín Stadium.

Al-Ittihad had a challenging season, finishing fifth in the Saudi Professional League and failing to secure a spot in the Asian Championships for the new season. They will also miss out on participating in the Saudi Super Cup.

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