Al-Nassr has fired manager Luis Castro, marking the second coaching change since Cristiano Ronaldo joined the Saudi Arabian club. This decision comes as the team struggles in the Saudi Pro League, having secured only one victory in their first three matches of the season.
The 63-year-old Castro, who previously managed Porto, faced criticism for the team’s lackluster performance. “Al-Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club,” the organization stated on social media. “Everyone at Al-Nassr would like to thank Luis and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 14 months, wishing them the best of luck for the future.”
In a recent match, Al-Nassr drew 1-1 against Iraq’s Al-Shorta in the opening game of the AFC Champions League Elite, further highlighting the team’s struggles under Castro’s leadership.
This is not the first managerial change for Al-Nassr since Ronaldo’s arrival; Rudi Garcia also left the club in April 2023 after failing to lead the team to the top of the league, despite the star player’s presence.
Reports suggest that Stefano Pioli, former coach of AC Milan and the architect behind their 2022 Italian championship victory, is among the candidates to replace Castro. Pioli is currently available after his departure from Milan in May.
Despite having a roster filled with talent, including Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Aymeric Laporte, Castro could not secure a major trophy during his tenure, which began in July 2023. Al-Nassr finished second to their Riyadh rivals, Al-Hilal, last season.
Under Castro’s management, Al-Nassr also faced elimination in knockout competitions against the same rival, further intensifying the pressure on the club to find a suitable replacement.
