New ROSHN Saudi League season promises scintillating action

Al-Ittihad
Coach: Nuno Espirito Santo
Star Player: Ahmed Hegazy

Threw away the title last year and need to put that disappointment behind them. New coach Nuno Santo is a high-profile appointment and should add some steel to the lineup. The four-month ban to prolific star striker Abderrazak Hamdallah is a blow, though there is plenty of other attacking talent. The defense needs to stay tight.

Al-Nassr
Coach: Rudi Garcia
Star Player: Talisca

Al-Nassr have been busy in the summer with goalkeeper David Ospina, full-back Ghislain Konan and midfielder Luiz Gustavo all looking to be improvements on what was there before. With no continental commitments, a strong local spine and a high-profile new coach, there are genuine title ambitions.

Al-Shabab
Coach: Vicente Moreno
Star Player: Ever Banega

Led the chasing pack for much of last season before fading after the mid-season departure of Odion Ighalo. Still have the impressive Ever Banega in the middle, but under their new Spanish coach they need to move to the next level and beat the top three when it matters. Could be distracted by AFC Champions League knockout stages in February.

Damac
Coach: Kresimir Rezic
Star Player: Emilio Zelaya

Had their best ever season, and success this time would be taking fifth again and perhaps challenging more in the cups. Croatian boss Kresimir Rezic has created a well-organized team that works hard. With Damac in the bottom half in terms of goals scored, Zelaya will again be crucial up front and needs some help.

Al-Tai
Coach: Pepa
Star Player: Guy Mbenza

Finished sixth but, amazingly, were in a relegation battle almost until the end, before three wins from the last four sent them to lofty heights. New coach Pepa is a gamble and has never worked outside Portugal before. New striker Mbenza has scored lots in Africa and the Congolese star should be a good signing.

Al-Raed
Coach: Marius Sumudica
Star Player: Karim El Berkaoui

The Buraidah club were delighted with seventh last season and have a new coach with Sumudica coming in after a short stint with Al-Shabab last season. Did well to take striker Julio Tavares from the relegated Al-Faisaly. With his goals and those of El Berkaoui, who got 13 last season, and the Romanian coach bringing in compatriots such as goalkeeper Silviu Lung and Alexandru Mitrita, there is plenty of optimism.  

Al-Fateh
Coach: Giorgios Donis
Star Player: Firas Al-Buraikan

Struggled for much of last season but a run of 13 points from 15 in February and March was enough to save them. Scored more than most but were defensively vulnerable. Have an interesting mix of foreign players and also Firas Al-Buraikan, the most prolific and in-form local striker, and need something similar from him this season.

Abha
Coach: Sven Vandenbroeck
Star Player: Devis Epassy

Finished last season poorly with just one win from the last 10 games and that will be a worry. New Belgian coach Vandenbroeck has experience in Africa and that has been reflected in a squad with imports from Cameroon, Congo, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. How the new players settle will be key to avoiding a relegation battle.

Al-Feiha
Coach: Vuk Rasovic
Star Player: Panagiotis Tachtsidis

The most modest team in the league in terms of goal action with just 21 scored and 24 conceded in the 30 games, but fans won’t care as they won the King’s Cup, their first ever major silverware. Playing in the AFC Champions League next year will be exciting but Al-Feiha need more firepower if they are to finish in the top half. 

Al-Ettifaq
Coach: Patrice Carteron
Star Player: Naim Sliti

Avoided relegation with a famous 4-0 win at Al-Taawoun on the last day of the season and the wily Carteron will be hoping for a better campaign this time around. Look to have recruited well and with Youssouf Niakate supporting Robin Quaison in attack and Marcel Tisserand shoring up a leaky defense and the consistent Sliti in midfield, it could be a better season in Dammam.

Al-Taawoun
Coach: Pericles Chamusca
Star Player: Leandre Tawamba

A relegation scrap was disappointing after finishing fourth the season before but having three coaches does not help and there is another new face on the bench now. The goals of Tawamba, who finished as fourth highest scorer, made a huge difference but will be looking for more under the hugely experienced Chamusca.

Al-Batin
Coach: Alen Horvat
Star Player: Martin Campana

Looked dead and buried last season until seven points from the last three games saved them. Coach Alen Horvat has a decent grasp now of Saudi Arabian football but needs to find more goals if they are to stay out of a relegation fight. Could be a long season.

Khaleej
Coach: Pedro Emanuel
Star Player: Lucas Souza

Won the first division to return to the top tier and have since appointed Pedro Emanuel, who had a very short spell in charge of Al-Nassr last year. Have recruited a number of attacking talents but the real tests will come at the back, and it remains to be seen if a team that conceded 36 goals in the second tier can tighten up this time.

Al-Wehda
Coach: Bruno Akrapovic
Star Player: Gerson Rodrigues

Finished fourth in the top tier as recently as 2020 and impressed in the promotion season. The appointment of Bruno Akrapovic as coach, who has experience, but all of it in Europe, is an interesting one. Taking on Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal in the first four games is a test but look to have recruited well enough to take points off the so-called lesser teams.

Al-Adalah
Coach: Yousef Al-Mannai
Star Player: Cristofer Gonzales

Returning to the top tier for the first time since a painful relegation in 2020, the Al-Ahsa club have made a lot of changes and it remains to be seen if Tunisian coach Yousef Al-Mannai can organize it all into a team capable of surviving or better. Need to get points on the board early.