The Saudi Premier League, the first Saudi division, has definitely set its sights on the champion coaches of France.
After Léonardo Jardim, stationed in Al-Hilal from June 1, 2021 to February 14, 2022, it is Rudi Garcia's turn to set sail for the kingdom of the Arabian Peninsula.
Without a club since the end of his contract with Olympique Lyonnais in May 2021, the technician, author of the double with Lille in 2011, has linked his future for two seasons with Al-Nassr.
According to our information, the formalization of this agreement, tied up now for several days, must take place by Thursday, June 30.
The training, located in Riyadh, the capital of the country, boasts a rich CV which includes, in particular, 9 championship titles, the last acquired in 2019. In the past, three French coaches have trained this Saudi team: Robert Herbin (1985-86), Jean Fernandez (1995-96 then 1998) and Patrice Carteron (2017).
Garcia will find there an old acquaintance of the L1 in the person of the Cameroonian international striker Vincent Aboubacar.
The technician, who worked for Lille (champion in 2011), AS Roma (2nd in Serie A in 2014 and 2015), OM (Europa League 2018 finalist), or more recently Lyon, has officiated since the fall of 2021 as consultant on Canal + for Champions League evenings.
In Al Nassr, where a salary estimated at 5.6 million euros per year awaits him according to the Saudi press, he will succeed Argentinian Miguel Ángel Russo.
After a last success, on Monday June 27, against Al Fateh (2-1), Al Nassr finished the championship in 3rd place, six points behind champion Al-Hilal, the former club of Jardim.
C1 semi-finalist with Lyon in 2020, Garcia will have his first experience outside Europe.
A few weeks ago, his name was mentioned to Athletic Bilbao by some Spanish media.
In the fall of 2021, he was also cited among the potential successors of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.
"I had several proposals, in England, Spain and France, but the most advanced, and which almost went to the end, was with Manchester United", he had, moreover, confided to Figaro in March 2022.