Al-Fateh Club, competing in the Saudi Professional Football League, announced on Thursday its contract with Moroccan Jamal Salami, to coach the first team, succeeding Khaled Al-Atawi, whose contract was terminated by mutual consent.
The club expressed its confidence in the technical capabilities and experience possessed by Al-Salami, wishing him and his technical staff success in leading the team and achieving the aspirations of Al-Fateh fans.
“Al-Fateh” said, on its website: “Al-Salami is one of the prominent coaching names in Moroccan football, as he has a long training record and extensive experience in managing teams and competing in various tournaments, which enhances (Al-Fateh’s) ambitions to provide distinguished levels during the next stage.”
For his part, Al-Salami expressed his happiness in going through this new experience with Al-Fateh, stressing his determination to work with all elements of the team to achieve positive results and make the fans happy.
Al-Salami (56 years old) coached the Jordanian national team and led it to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, before the team’s journey ended with its exit from the group stage.
Regarding the termination of the contract with Al-Atwi, Al-Fateh said that the matter occurred by mutual consent between the two parties, in a manner consistent with the interest of the club and the coach and the aspirations of the next stage.
The club's management extended its thanks and appreciation to Al-Atwi for the efforts and work he provided during the past period, in light of the challenges the team faced, stressing its appreciation for his contribution, and its pride in the good relationship that brought him together with the club.
The Al-Fateh management wished Al-Atwi good luck and success in his upcoming training career, appreciating his contributions and efforts during his period of work with the team.
“Al-Fateh” has scored only 3 points during the 7 matches it has played so far in the “League” this season, as it lost 4 matches, and tied in 3, and is preparing to meet Al-Ahly, tomorrow, Friday, in the eighth round of the competition.
An informed source in the Saudi Football Federation confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the news circulating about the federation reaching an agreement with Spanish coach Roberto Martinez, who previously coached the Belgian and Portuguese national teams, to take over the leadership of the first Saudi national team, succeeding the Greek Georgios Donis, who recently led the “Greens” to crowning the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup title in Jeddah, is not true.
Despite the confirmation of his stay by the Football Association, multiple sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that an agreement was reached between the Saudi Federation and Martinez before the start of the Gulf Cup tournament. However, the achievement that Denis achieved in winning the title may prompt a re-evaluation of his future with the national team, and the possibility of ignoring the completion of the contract with the Spanish coach, in light of the changes that occurred in the artistic scene after the tournament.
According to multiple sources, Matt Crocker, the technical director of the Saudi Football Federation, reached an agreement with Martinez to lead the Saudi national team for the next four years, in exchange for an annual salary of approximately 13 million euros, which is information that contradicts what the informed source in the Saudi Federation confirmed regarding the lack of an agreement with the Spanish coach.
For his part, a source in the Saudi national team management confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Denis is continuing in his position, according to the information available to him, explaining that he does not have any information regarding the departure of the Greek coach or the existence of arrangements to end his contractual relationship with the national team.
The Saudi Federation had agreed with Denis before the 2026 World Cup finals to take over as coach of the national team for one year, with a contract that expires next June. However, the Gulf coronation raised questions about his future, and the extent of the possibility of him continuing to lead the “Greens” during the next stage, especially with Saudi Arabia approaching hosting the 2027 Asian Cup finals.
Badr Al-Ruzaiza, President of the Saudi Football Federation, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat after the team won the Gulf Cup, in response to a question about Donis’ future with the Saudi team, explaining: “These are technical decisions, not our decisions, and in the end any decision related to Donis comes from the technical side, whether the technical director or the relevant staff, and we do not know what will happen, but Donis is with us and you saw what he presented.”
Regarding the evaluation of the team’s performance during the tournament, the president of the Saudi Federation said: “In the end, there is a technical evaluation of the performance, and this is what we will look into, God willing.”
Al-Raziza’s statements come at a time when questions are increasing regarding the identity of the coach who will lead the Saudi national team during the next stage, as the Federation President left the door open for technical evaluation, without providing confirmation regarding Donis’ continuation or the existence of a tendency to change the technical staff, despite the achievement achieved in Jeddah.
The Saudi national team was crowned champion of the Gulf Cup for the fourth time in its history, after defeating the Emirates with two unanswered goals in the final match that was held last Tuesday at Al-Enmaa Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, ending an absence from the Gulf podium that extended since 2003.
Denis won the title after leading the Saudi national team to win its three matches in the group stage, before overcoming Qatar on penalties in the semi-finals, then defeating the UAE in the final, while maintaining a clean sheet for the “Green” team throughout its five matches in the tournament.
These results gave the Greek coach an important morale boost, after he entered the tournament amid questions about the team's technical performance, only to emerge from it crowned with the title, in a transformation that may have repercussions on the expected evaluation of his future with the team.
Donis enjoys remarkable public support, which was clearly evident Thursday morning on social media platforms, which demanded that Martinez be dismissed and that Donis be kept because he has excellent relations with the players, in addition to his quality of training that is compatible with the players’ capabilities.
The Moroccan Badou Zaki, coach of the Jordanian national team, had revealed that “Al-Nashama” will play a friendly match against the Saudi national team on December 27, as part of the teams’ preparations for the 2027 Asian Cup finals, which Saudi Arabia will host during the period from January 7 to February 5.
The Saudi national team will compete in the tournament in the first group alongside the teams of Palestine, Oman, and Kuwait. It begins its journey against Palestine on January 7, then meets Oman on January 12, before concluding the group stage against Kuwait on January 17.
Al-Akhdar will also meet South Korea and Uzbekistan in a friendly manner as part of the preparations for the Asian Cup during the international break scheduled for next November.
