JEDDAH: Fabio Carille has agreed to a one-year contract extension with Al-Ittihad Football Club, ending speculation regarding his future at the Jeddah club.
The Brazilian coach had been expected to leave the club following the end of his previous deal and was reported to be considering other offers, including from an Emirati side.
However, the club has confirmed he is now set to continue until the end of the 2021-22 season after leading Al-Ittihad to a third-place finish in the Saudi Football Pro League, returning the two-time AFC Champions League winners to Asia’s premier club competition after a two-year absence.
Carille also led the club to the Arab Club Champions Cup Final against Al-Raja from Morocco, to be played in August 2021.
“We are very excited about the future of Al-Ittihad football program, and this agreement allows us to continue to build on the success we have enjoyed this year,” the club’s president, Anmar Al-Haeli said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Carille, formerly coach of Corinthians in Brazil and of Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Wehda, joined Al-Ittihad in February 2020 as a replacement for departing Dutch coach Henk Ten Cate, and went on to lead the team to 19 wins and 14 draws in 42 matches.
During the signing ceremony held on Tuesday in the presence club Vice President Ahmed Kaaki and CEO Abdel Wahab Abed, Carille said: “I agreed with the administration of Al-Ittihad to renew the contract for another season, and we hope to improve the status of the club to the best possible level.”
Carille is now tasked with bringing back tangible success to Al-Ittihad, with the Jeddah club’s last trophy being the 2017-18 King’s Cup after beating Al-Faisaly 3-1 in the final.
“We took over the team in 2020 and the team was threatened with relegation, and thanks to the work of the whole team, today, we are in third place this season,” Carille added.
