The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has entered into negotiations with five candidates to take over the national team following the departure of head coach Hervé Renard, who left to lead the France women’s team.
According to information obtained by Kooora, the federation’s shortlist includes three managers currently working within the Kingdom. The leading candidate is believed to be Portuguese manager José Peseiro, who recently led Al Wahda to the President’s Cup final. Peseiro has previous experience with the Saudi national team, having served as an assistant to manager Nelo Vingada during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign.
The second name under serious consideration is Romanian manager Mirel Rădoi, the current head coach of Al Ahli. Rădoi is highly regarded by the federation’s technical committee due to his deep understanding of Saudi football.
The third local candidate is Greek manager Giorgos Donis, who is at the helm of Al Fayha. Donis has impressed by guiding his club to the King’s Cup final, where they will face Al Hilal on 12 May 2023.
Moving to managers from outside Saudi Arabia, the federation has also opened talks with Frenchman Laurent Blanc. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux manager is currently without a club and brings significant top-level experience.
The fifth and final candidate on the list is another Frenchman, Bruno Génésio. The former Rennes and Lyon boss is also a free agent and is under consideration for the role.
The federation is moving swiftly to appoint Renard’s successor, aiming to have the new manager in place well before the team’s next competitive fixtures. The Green Falcons are set to begin their journey in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in November 2023, and will also defend their title at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January 2024.
