Alguacil in at Al Shabab, Contra at Al Kholood | OneFootball

The Roshn Saudi League welcomed a couple of new coaches to the competition on Thursday, with Al Shabab appointing Imanol Alguacil as manager and Cosmin Contra the new man at Al Kholood.

In Alguacil, Al Shabab have brought in one of the most highly respected managers in Europe, with the former Real Sociedad boss replacing in the dugout Turkish legend Fatih Terim.

The Spaniard, 54, comes to the Riyadh club following six-and-a-half years at Sociedad in which he guided the La Liga side to the 2019-20 Copa de Rey crown and fourth in the 2022-23 Spanish top flight. With it, Sociedad qualified for the first time to the UEFA Champions League.

Last season, Sociedad came home 11th, while at Al Shabab, Alguacil will be looking to improve on the 2011-12 Saudi champions’ sixth-placed finish in the 2024-25 RSL.

Speaking to Al Shabab’s official social media channels, Alguacil said: “First of all, I’m very happy and extremely excited. I know I’ve joined a historic club and, honestly, the welcome has been unmatched. I truly felt the love.

"As you know, I moved up my arrival to better get to know Riyadh, the club and to start working right away. Our goal to begin with is to build a competitive team that grows gradually.

"And why not? Short term we could be that team again, the one that not so long ago lifted something important.”

Meanwhile, Al Kholood have chosen Cosmin Contra to guide them through their second season in the RSL following their superb ninth-placed finish on debut last term.

The Romanian, who has previously managed Al Ittihad and Damac, has replaced Noureddine Ben Zekri. Contra spent a season in charge of Al Ittihad in the 2021-22 season but most recently managed Damac, from March 2023 before his departure last December.

In his one full season at the club, he guided the southern side to 10th in the RSL.