AL-ITTIHAD have sacked manager Laurent Blanc after just four league matches into the season despite winning the double last term.
Blanc, 59, took over at the Saudi giants in 2024 and led them to the league title as well as the King’s Cup a year later.
The Saudi Pro League outfit have also won three of their first four fixtures in the top flight under the French tactician this season.
However, Al-Ittihad decided to still cut ties with Blanc after losing to Al-Nassr 2-0 on Friday.
Cristiano Ronaldo and co also eliminated the Frenchman’s team in the semi-finals of the Saudi Super Cup.
AL-ittihad shared 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 added they are looking for “new technical staff that matches the club’s ambitions”.
Blanc has experienced plenty of success as both a player and manager during his near 50-year career in football.
The former defender played for the likes of Napoli, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Manchester United.
He also won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France, where he amassed 97 caps.
Blanc won the French Cup with Montpellier, Ligue 1 with Auxerre as well as the Cup Winners’ Cup and Copa del Rey with Barca.
The ex-centre-back spent two years at United before his retirement in 2003, which is when he won the Premier League.
Ever since crossing over to management in 2007, he has worked for some major teams, such as France and Paris Saint-Germain.
He won Ligue 1 with Bordeaux in 2009 before amassing another three titles with PSG.
Blanc revealed back in 2019 how he was in the running to become Man Utd boss.
More recently he was in the frame to replace Jose Mourinho but the board opted for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim boss.
But it appears he came closest to returning to his former club as manager following the sacking of David Moyes in 2014.
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