In a move aimed at correcting the course and saving the team's season, the management of Al-Shabab Saudi Club officially announced, on Tuesday evening, the signing of the veteran Algerian coach Noureddine Benzekri to take over the technical leadership of the first football team for the remainder of the current 2025/2026 season, succeeding the Spanish coach Manuel Algawasil, who was dismissed due to poor results.

The return of the "architect of survival" to Saudi stadiums

Noureddine Benzekri's name is not unfamiliar to Saudi fans, as the 61-year-old coach boasts an impressive track record and a long history in the Saudi Professional League. This marks his sixth stint in the Kingdom, where he has earned a distinguished reputation as a "man for tough jobs" or a "survival engineer," thanks to his exceptional ability to rescue teams from relegation and ensure their survival in the top flight.

Historically, Ben Zekri has achieved dramatic success stories with several clubs. In the 2018/19 season, he saved Al-Fayha from relegation to the second division, and repeated the feat with Damac in the 2019/20 season, then Al-Akhdoud in the 2023/24 season, and most recently succeeded in keeping Al-Kholoud in the top tier of the Roshan League in the 2024/25 season. This accumulated experience made him the ideal choice to manage Al-Shabab at this critical time.

Major challenges facing “Al-Layouth”

Ben Zekri's task at the home of the "Sheikh of Clubs" will be anything but easy, as Al-Shabab is going through a very difficult period both technically and psychologically. The team currently sits in 14th place in the Roshan League standings with only 19 points (collected from 4 wins, 7 draws, and 10 losses), a position unbecoming of the club's illustrious history. Even more alarming is the fact that the gap between Al-Shabab and the first relegation spot (16th place, currently occupied by Al-Riyadh) is a mere 6 points, placing the team under immense pressure.

The Algerian coach faces a technical challenge in repairing the dilapidated defensive system, as Al-Shabab’s net has been breached 31 times in the league, while its attack has only scored 21 goals in 21 matches, figures that reflect the major imbalance in the team.

A glimmer of hope and a digital journey

Despite the domestic setback and exit from the King's Cup, the team showed a strong continental reaction by qualifying for the next round of the Gulf Champions League, after a sweeping and historic victory with a score of (13-0) over Yemen's Al-Tadhamon Hadramout last night, which may be built on by Ben Zakri to raise the morale of the players.

The following is a review of Ben Zekri's most prominent statistics from his previous experiences, which Al-Shabab fans rely on:

• Al-Raed (2012/13): 17 matches (4 wins, 4 draws, 9 losses).
• Al-Fayha (2018/19): 12 matches (5 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses).
• Damac (2019/20): 39 matches (12 wins, 9 draws, 18 losses).
• Al-Akhdoud (2023/24): 7 matches (2 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses).
• Eternity (2024/25): 28 matches (11 wins, 3 draws, 14 losses).

The youth fans are now waiting to see what will come of the touches of Ben Zekri, who is known for his great enthusiasm and ability to motivate the players, hoping that he will succeed in restoring the prestige of the Lions before it is too late.

All eyes in Saudi football are on the highly anticipated clash between Al-Fateh and Al -Ettifaq in the next round of the Saudi Professional League. This match carries special significance beyond simply being a battle for three points; it represents a new chapter in the exciting rivalry between the two teams, a rivalry fueled by a rich history of statistics and figures that tell the story of their competition in recent years.

The context of the competition and the importance of the meeting

This match comes at a time when the Saudi League is witnessing tremendous development and fierce competition for all positions, making every point crucial. Matches between clubs from the Eastern Province, often described as a mini-Eastern derby, have a special character marked by intense rivalry and passionate fan support. Both teams are striving to improve their standings, with Al-Ettifaq aiming to capitalize on home advantage and break their recent losing streak, while Al-Fateh hopes to reaffirm their psychological and technical superiority.

Fatah dominance and the suffering of the agreement

Looking at the statistics, Al-Ettifaq faces a historically difficult challenge; the team has suffered seven defeats in its last eight encounters with Al-Fateh in the Saudi Professional League, managing only one victory. This negative record equals Al-Ettifaq's total losses in the first 21 matches between the two teams (during which they achieved 6 wins and 8 draws). The struggles are compounded at home, where Al-Ettifaq has lost its last three home matches against Al-Fateh, a tally that matches its losses in its first 11 home matches in the competition's history.

A glimmer of hope for an agreement and uncertainty for Fatah

Despite their direct negative record, Al-Ettifaq enters the match buoyed by a recent positive run at home, having won two consecutive home games and kept a clean sheet in their last three home matches, their longest "clean sheet" streak since 2011. In contrast, Al-Fateh is experiencing a period of inconsistency, having not tasted victory in their last seven league matches (4 draws and 3 losses), although they have achieved two wins in their last five away matches, making them a formidable opponent away from home.

Physical and tactical superiority of the model

On a technical and physical level, statistics clearly show Al-Fateh's superiority in duels this season, having won 1,085 compared to Al-Ettifaq's 803. Al-Fateh also dominates the airspace, being the most successful in aerial duels (500), which forces Al-Ettifaq to be cautious in dealing with crosses and set pieces.

Weapons of Conquest: Gomez and Patna

Al-Fateh relies heavily on its coach, José Gomes , who boasts a perfect and historic record against Al-Ettifaq (5 wins and 1 loss, with no draws). The attacking force is further strengthened by the presence of star player Mourad Batna , one of the most dangerous players in the league this season. He leads the league in chances created after dribbling and has completed 99 successful dribbles in the attacking third, making him a trump card that Al-Ettifaq's defense fears.

In conclusion, this confrontation will be a real test of Al-Ittifaq's ability to overcome its recent historical complex, and a major test for Al-Fateh to regain its winning momentum and confirm its superiority over its traditional rival.

Moroccan star Abderrazak Hamdallah, the striker for Al-Shabab's first football team, expressed his great optimism and happiness with the club's management's decision to appoint veteran Algerian coach Noureddine Benzekri as the team's technical director, succeeding Spanish coach Imanol Algausil, whose contract was recently terminated due to declining results.

Hamdallah's statements and support for the Arab coach

Speaking on the "Action with Waleed" program on Tuesday evening, Hamdallah confirmed that the appointment of Benzekri represents a very positive step for the team's future. The Moroccan striker said, "He is a very good coach, and we are fortunate to have him with us, because he is an exceptional coach who has proven his success and competence during his previous stints in the Saudi Professional League.".

Hamdallah did not limit himself to technical praise, but also touched on a crucial point related to confidence in Arab coaches, adding: “We often look towards European coaches, and forget that we have Arab coaches with a high level of competence and the ability to lead and achieve accomplishments,” in a clear reference to the need to give the opportunity to Arab coaching talents who understand the mentality of the player and the surrounding environment.

Noureddine Ben Zekri... a man for difficult tasks

The appointment of Noureddine Benzekri comes at a sensitive time for Al-Shabab, as the Algerian coach is known in Saudi sporting circles as "the man for tough jobs" or "the savior." Benzekri boasts an impressive track record in the Saudi Professional League, having previously managed Al-Raed, Al-Fayha, and Damac, achieving notable results with them. His most prominent achievement was his exceptional ability to rescue teams from relegation zones and improve defensive organization and the fighting spirit of his players.

Challenges of the next stage for the youth

Al-Shabab fans are placing high hopes on Benzekri's extensive experience in Saudi football to guide the team back to winning ways. The club officially announced the signing of the Algerian coach last night following a string of poor results under Spaniard Emanuel Algausil, prompting urgent administrative intervention to correct the course before it was too late. Benzekri is expected to focus on the players' mental state, an area where he excels, in addition to instilling tactical discipline on the field.

The upcoming match for Al-Shabab is expected to be closely watched by fans to see the first impression of the new coach, and how he utilizes the stars in the team, especially Abderrazak Hamdallah, to restore the team's prestige and compete for advanced positions in the standings.