There was a sense of deja vu this week as a Saudi Arabia club went to the top tier of English football and signed one of the world’s best players.
Al-Ittihad have recruited Ashleigh Plumptre from Leicester City which means that one of the stars of the women’s game has made the switch from the home of the Foxes in England’s East Midlands to join the Tigers in the port of Jeddah.
With the 25-year-old on the radar of several big European clubs, the signing has whetted appetites for the second season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League which kicks off next month.
Plumptre is a former England youth international who switched allegiance to Nigeria and was one of the stars of the World Cup that ended last month with the Africans losing to England after a penalty shootout in the knockout stages.
“(I am) grateful to have signed for Al-Ittihad,” Plumptre reportedly said. “I am excited to start this journey alongside some incredible human beings. My journey of stepping into more of myself continues … It’s more than football.”
She joins a Jeddah club on the rise under coach Kelly Lindsay, the former US international who has managed the women’s teams of Afghanistan and Morocco. They have been busy in the transfer market. As well as the new Nigerian defender, there is Morocco’s Salma Amani — who helped the Atlas Lionesses not just become the first Arab team to play at the Women’s World Cup this summer but also to get to the knockout stage.
Former Swedish youth international Nor Mustafa, who arrived by the Red Sea from Scottish club Hibernian, means that the Tigers will be hoping to mount a title challenge this time after finishing fifth out of eight in the inaugural season. For the city of Jeddah to be home to both the male and female champions would be something special.
Fullback Bayan Sadagah is looking forward to continuing the progress already made. “I used to play for Jeddah Eagles and after the Saudi Women’s Pro League was created, our club was acquired by Al-Ittihad,” the defender said. “We were able to use their facilities and we were happy that we were finally being treated as professionals and this really pushed us to be more ambitious. We push ourselves to become better.”
That is the plan for the new season but taking the title from Al-Nassr will not be easy. The Riyadh team are the ones to beat with stars including Lina Boussaha, a former French youth international who played for Paris Saint-Germain before sustaining a serious injury. Her career is now back on track in Saudi Arabia.
Even the newly-promoted teams are ambitious. Al-Qadsia have former Benfica coach Luis Andrade.
“We are aiming to be competitive in the Premier League,” Andrade said as he arrived in the east of the country in August. “We know that we have a lot of work to do but we are not just there to make up the numbers.”
The numbers are improving and there are plans to expand the top tier to 10 teams from next year. Interestingly, there are 30 sides in the second division which is divided into regional groups of six. At the end of the season there will be playoffs with three teams coming up and one going down.
Compared to other Asian powerhouses such as China and especially Japan, there is a determination to try and catch up as quickly as possible and the progress made in a short time has been impressive.
In 2019, the women’s department at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation was established. A year later, came the Women’s Community Football League and then the Regional Women’s League in 2021. The Premier League launched in 2022, the same year that the national women’s team played their first-ever international game, defeating the Seychelles 2-0. They now have a FIFA ranking.
There is, of course, a bid to host the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup. If that is successful, it would be a huge boost to the game in the country but even if not, there is a plan to qualify to the tournament for the first time.
The 2027 World Cup may be a little too early but with 32 teams participating and the likes of the Philippines and Vietnam making the 2023 edition, there is always hope. There are now more than 50,000 schoolgirls playing football, over 1,000 female coaches and regional training centers where the best talent get the best coaching. The development is continuing at a rapid speed.
First though, is the new season. The objective is that this is better than last year in terms of the quality of play and the interest off the pitch. That remains to be seen but the early signs and the early signings such as Plumptre are very promising.
Ashleigh Plumptre’s move to Al-Ittihad adds star power to Saudi Women’s Premier League
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Ashleigh Plumptre’s move to Al-Ittihad adds star power to Saudi Women’s Premier League
- The Nigeria international joins the Jeddah club ahead of the second edition of the top tier competition
- Plumptre said: “I am excited to start this journey alongside some incredible human beings. My journey of stepping into more of myself continues … It’s more than football”
Fabinho up against old friend Firmino as Al-Ittihad look to overcome Jeddah rivals Al-Ahli in Derby Week
- ‘Last season, I made a hard tackle on him, and he sent me a photo of his ankle. I said: Sorry, Bobby,’ Fabinho reveals ahead of Thursday night’s Jeddah derby
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad midfielder Fabinho has admitted “it’s not nice” playing against compatriot, ex-Liverpool teammate and good friend Roberto Firmino, but will be doing everything to beat him and Al-Ahli in the Roshn Saudi League on Thursday.
Both Brazilian stars moved to their respective Jeddah clubs in the summer of 2023 after enjoying years of success at Liverpool, including winning the Champions League and Premier League.
But they will be on opposite sides for the Sea Derby, with Fabinho confessing that he even had to apologize to his good friend Firmino after an overzealous tackle in a corresponding fixture last season.
Al-Ittihad go into the derby in second place, with their local rival 11th in the Roshn Saudi League table.
The Jeddah derby, which kicks off at 9 p.m. local time at King Abdullah Sports City, is a part of the Roshn Saudi League’s innovative Derby Week, which is taking place in matchweek nine of the 2024-2025 season.
The new Derby Week addition to the Saudi Arabian topflight features Christiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr versus champions Al-Hilal, with Neymar at No. 10, at Al-Awwal Park. The mouthwatering Capital Derby matchup is on Friday.
The Eastern Derby between Al-Ettifaq, managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, and Al-Qadsiah, who welcomed Real Madrid hero Nacho into their ranks in summer, is on Saturday.
Here are some of Fabinho’s views on the big game and the SPL season:
On the derby
“For us it is a really important game, the team is in a really good moment. We are second in the league just behind Al-Hilal and we want to be at the top, so we have to win this game.
“This will be my third derby, the first two were not very good for us. We lost both of them, so it is an opportunity to give a nice result to our fans. The fans they are asking for us to give everything to win this game.”
Al-Ittihad’s form this season
“I think the players that arrived (in the transfer window) are playing really well. Moussa Diaby, Houssem Aouar, all the players who arrived have really integrated into the team and adapted to the team and the way we play.
“I think some key players are finding their best football again, so this is very important for us. The new coach and his staff arrived as well, and we know the ideas they have and how they want to play football.
“What everybody expects from us is to fight for the league, it’s not a big surprise. We have to do everything to reach the top.”
On facing Firmino
“It is not nice. Bobby is one of my good friends that I have made in football, he is a very good player, so I never like to play against him. Last season when we played against them, I made a hard tackle on him and after the game he sent me a photo of his ankle. I said: ‘Sorry, Bobby.’
“After the game we can talk but, in the game, I will fight for my side and my team. It’s nice to be in the same city as him, to see him off the pitch often. Our families also are in contact, and he is a very good friend, but on the pitch and in the derby, I am with Al-Ittihad and he is with Al-Ahli.”
On living in Jeddah
“My good friend Helder Costa played here for one season, so I talked to him, because I wanted my family to be comfortable in the city. Coming to Jeddah it was a very good surprise to see how nice the city is.
“We have adapted to the city, and we love to live in Jeddah. We’re very happy to be here.”
Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney looking to outscore Ronaldo in the SPL this season
- England international all set for Jeddah derby against Al-Ittihad on Thursday night
- Ivan Toney: We want to win the league, end of story
JEDDAH: Al-Ahli forward Ivan Toney is hoping to score more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo this season — starting by netting in a Derby Week victory over Jeddah rivals Al-Ittihad in the Roshn Saudi League on Thursday.
The England goalscorer, who joined Al-Ahli from Brentford in the summer, has netted three times in six Roshn Saudi League matches. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has six goals from seven Roshn Saudi League games for Al-Nassr this season.
Toney hopes to improve that tally in the Sea Derby, which kicks off at 9 p.m. local time on Thursday as Al-Ahli travel to face their city rivals Al-Ittihad at King Abdullah Sports City. The big game is part of Roshn Saudi League’s innovative Derby Week, which is taking place in Matchweek 9 of the 2024/25 season.
The new Derby Week addition to the Saudi Arabian topflight also features Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr versus champions Al-Hilal, with Neymar at No. 10, at Al-Awwal Park in the Capital Derby on Friday. The Eastern Derby between Al-Ettifaq, managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, and Al-Qadsiah, who welcomed Real Madrid hero Nacho into their ranks in summer, is on Saturday.
Here are some of Toney’s views on a big few days ahead.
On the derby
“We know it’s going to be big. On a personal level, it is going to be my first one. I’m excited. I know derbies from my previous clubs, but I’m sure it’s nothing like being here, how much it means to everyone, and hopefully we can win.
“I think it’ll be similar (to other derbies), you know, there’ll be tackles flying in, but the fact is we’re fighting for what color we make Jeddah. Obviously, it’s special to everyone and special to the fans; obviously with them being so close, we want to make Jeddah green.”
On facing top Al-Ittihad talent
“You’ve got to do the work. It’s all well and good coming up against these players, but we’re not here to idolize these players, we’re here to beat them, and hopefully we can do that.”
Roshn Saudi League ambitions
“Obviously, we have to aim to win the league. If I was saying, ‘We’ll just try and get top three,’ what’s the point in playing the games? We want to win the league, end of story.”
Goalscoring
“I always set targets for myself and hopefully I can hit them. (Media) ask me what my target is, but it doesn’t come out. It only comes out when I’ve hit it come the end of the season! Hopefully I can keep playing well, score goals and help the team to win games.”
On scoring more or less than Cristiano Ronaldo
“Hopefully more! To be fair, I’m competing with myself really, I don’t watch what other people are doing. Obviously, Ronaldo is a top player, but I concentrate on myself and what I do best.”
Karim Benzema happy at Al-Ittihad, head coach Laurent Blanc says
- Team sits second in Saudi Pro League ahead of Thursday’s Sea Derby clash with Al-Ahli
- ‘It will be a very interesting game,’ Frenchman says
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad manager Laurent Blanc says his star striker Karim Benzema is happy to be at the Jeddah club, as the French duo target victory over Al-Ahli on Thursday.
Al-Ittihad go into the Sea Derby in second place in the Roshn Saudi League, with their rivals back in 11th. Ahead of the match, Blanc, a World Cup winner with France as a player in 1998, has spoken about managing Al-Ittihad, 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Benzema, facing Ivan Toney and the big game itself.
The match, which kicks off at 9 p.m. at King Abdullah Sports City, is part of the league’s innovative Derby Week, which falls on Matchweek 9 of the 2024-25 season.
The new feature will also see Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr play champions Al-Hilal, with Neymar at No. 10, at Al Awwal Park in the Capital Derby in a mouthwatering match up on Friday. The Eastern Derby between Al-Ettifaq, managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, and Al-Qadsiah, who welcomed Real Madrid hero Nacho into their ranks in summer, is on Saturday.
Here are some of Blanc’s views on what promises to be a big weekend for Saudi football:
The Sea Derby
“It will be a hard game because it is a derby. But the game? I don’t know, I am not a magician. We hope we have the ball, because we want the ball in every game. Certainly, Al-Ahli will not agree with that. They are a good team with good players, so we need to be ready for a big game.
“It will be a very interesting game because on the pitch will be many good players. It will be a tough game, physically and technically. And there will be many people in the stadium to see it. I am impatient because this game is very interesting to play.
“I have been involved in a lot of derbies — in France, in England, in Spain, in Italy. It is the same way everywhere. In Saudi Arabia it is the same. You prepare for the game, you want to prepare to be ready, physically and technically. We are preparing well, I am sure. But Al-Ahli is also too. The only way is to win the game, but for now we don’t know the result. So it is the same everywhere guys, the most important thing is preparing to be ready physically and in my opinion in the derby, mentally. If you are ready mentally you can get a result, if you are not ready mentally it is very difficult.”
Benzema
“I think he is happy on the pitch and certainly off the pitch — this is very important for the player and he’s scored a lot. But this isn’t a surprise. Karim Benzema has played football for 20 years more or less and he scored a lot every year — 25, 27, 24 goals in a year. In Madrid, in Lyon and in Al-Ittihad it is the same.”
Facing Toney and Mahrez
“Everybody knows this player (Toney) is a very good player. He is a scorer too. He scored a lot of goals in England. But it’s not only Toney, they have Mahrez who we know a lot because he played in France and in England, he scored a lot. Technically he is a very, very good player. Al-Ahli is a good team. Everybody knows that.”
Building a successful team
“We need to adapt the squad to our objective. It is complicated, if you want to go to the top there is only one way and that is to win games. So the objective is big and we have to work a lot. The local players and the foreign players don’t have the same culture, so we have to work with the football but also in my opinion to be working with the human. I love to do that. Sometimes we have good results, sometimes we have bad results but we need to continue to work like this.”
Sevilla FC and Future Falcons partner to develop young Saudi talent
- A delegation from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation initiative was received by the La Liga club’s president
SEVILLE: A collaboration agreement between Sevilla FC and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s Future Falcons project will develop young Saudi talent and grow the La Liga club’s brand in the region.
“Sevilla FC signs this agreement with Future Falcons because, as part of our strategic plan, one of our most important pillars is the internationalization of the Sevilla FC brand, making ourselves known to the world,” said the club president, Jose Maria del Nido Carrasco.
“Saudi Arabia is an emerging and increasingly influential market in the world of football, and for us, this is a very important strategic alliance.”
Romeo Jozak, technical director of Future Falcons, said European clubs with which the organization wanted to collaborate and work were carefully selected.
“Sevilla FC is undoubtedly one of them,” he said. “It’s not only a giant in Spanish football but also a global football powerhouse. We’re thrilled to be here today and to have received such a warm welcome from the club and its president. This exchange provides tremendous mutual benefit and the opportunity to collaborate in the best possible way. Future Falcons will gain significant advantages through this partnership with Sevilla FC.”
Future Falcons is an academy project, managed by the SAFF, which trains the most promising young Saudi footballers at a high-performance center in Salou. The agreement means Sevilla FC will take part in the organization’s prestigious youth tournament alongside some of Europe’s top youth academies, including Benfica, Juventus and Sporting CP.
“This is very positive,” Carrasco said. “We’re convinced that the training process they undertake, both in sports and personal development, is very similar to what we implement in our youth academy, which has been a cornerstone of our club’s history.
“Participating in their tournament with Sevilla’s youth players will provide a formative experience akin to what we’ve had in the past four seasons in the Youth League. It’s a tournament that features the best teams from different parts of the world, and this is highly beneficial in the players’ formative journey and for Sevilla FC.”
Jozak also emphasized the benefits of this tournament: “Within the Saudi Arabian national team, the majority of players have trained with Future Falcons and have played and competed in this tournament, where Sevilla will also be present.
“I think this will be mutually beneficial in the future due to the exchange of cultures, coaching methods, knowledge and experiences. Everyone knows Sevilla FC is a big club, having won seven Europa League titles and developed numerous players. This collaboration is a blessing for Future Falcons.”
Sevilla FC will actively participate in training talented players and Saudi coaches through its innovation center and some of its training initiatives. The club’s commitment to technological advancement in sports will also allow it to share knowledge and tools, focusing on talent development and recruitment.
Renard return should bring joy to Saudi national team and fans
- The Frenchman replaces Roberto Mancini and hopes to recreate the magic that saw the Green Falcons beat Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
LONDON: “I’m back.” And with those words on Saturday night, one of the biggest — though least surprising — homecomings in Asian football was complete.
Herve Renard is the new (and old) Saudia Arabian coach. It is a little over 18 months since the Frenchman left Riyadh to become head coach of the women’s national team in his homeland, and he has some work to do on his return.
Saudi football fans hope he brings him the joy that was felt during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when their nation beat eventual champions Argentina 2-1.
“I did not intend to leave but when your country knocks on your door, you have to respond,” Renard said in a video released by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation. “My connection with Saudi, the fans, the players and all the memories — I can never forget.”
Such words will be well-received by the fans, coming just two days after Roberto Mancini was dismissed following 14 months in the job. It was clear the federation already had their man in place and Renard’s return feels like a warm, comfortable embrace.
He’s back
— Saudi National Team (@SaudiNT_EN) October 26, 2024
pic.twitter.com/f45MAa51Jo
Qualification for the 2026 World Cup was not going well. Five points from the first four games, three of which were in Jeddah, was a disappointing start in Group C for the Saudi team. With only the top two sure of a place in North America, the Green Falcons were already resigned — or Mancini was, at least — to a battle.
The goalless home draw with Bahrain on Oct. 15 was the final straw. Bahrain are level with Saudi Arabia on five points, as are the Kingdom’s next opponents, Australia. Bosses wanted to make the change before the long journey to Melbourne.
That crucial match comes almost three years to the day since Renard took the team to Sydney for a 2022 World Cup qualifier. It was the fourth game of the third round. Saudi Arabia had won their first three and produced a fighting performance to draw 0-0, showing the spirit that would take them all the way to Qatar. In the end the team finished top of a tough group, above Japan and a massive eight points clear of Australia in third.
It is a stark contrast to the current situation. The national team are low on confidence, having scored just three goals in five games — two came from Hassan Kadesh headers in China, with midfielder Musab Al-Juwayr getting the other.
But it is not just about results on the pitch; the atmosphere around the national team has soured of late. This stems from the results, of course, but the sight of Mancini gesturing and seemingly shouting at fans at the end of the Bahrain game was also a cause for concern. The Italian was also visibly angry with Salem Al-Dawsari for missing his second penalty in four qualifiers.
Mancini may have won some big trophies as a coach, but repeated complaints about the lack of playing time given to his players did not go down well.
In contrast, Renard plays the game well off the pitch and seems to enjoy his job. There is none of Mancini’s spikiness. This is bound to improve the atmosphere around the team instantly.
They say you should never go back, but there was already an understanding in Riyadh when Reynard left for France. There were no acrimonious circumstances surrounding his departure.
After being in charge for almost four years, the 56-year-old knew his players well. And there will always be that unforgettable win against Argentina in 2022. Renard’s half-time team-talk has gone down in World Cup history, not just in Saudi Arabia but everywhere. His leadership and motivational qualities are on show for all to see.
Still, it is easily forgotten that there were a few rumblings before Renard left. Five of his last six games ended in defeat, albeit against the kind of international opposition the Kingdom does not face often.
Nobody cares about that now, however; now, it is about qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Renard has a contract until 2025 with an option to extend to 2027, the duration of his last contract. This would also include the Asian Cup, which is set to take place on home soil.
As he left last year, he said: “I think I did the maximum with the team. I can’t reach another level so I prefer to be honest with everybody.”
There is no need for that other level right now. All everyone wants is a return to the old one. That the federation has turned to a familiar, friendly face is understandable. It will be a happier team that flies to Australia next month — for a game they can’t afford to lose.
