Al-Ittihad appoint German Jens Wissing as new head coach

Al-Ittihad have officially named Jens Wissing as their new head coach. The 38-year-old German has signed a contract that runs through the summer of 2028, taking over from Portuguese manager Sérgio Conceição. Wissing arrives in Saudi Arabia after a stint with Gamba Osaka in Japan’s J.League, where he gained valuable head-coaching experience. He also served as an assistant at PSV, Benfica and Salzburg earlier in his career. The Jeddah-based club finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League last season — well below expectations. The board is betting on Wissing to restore the team to title contention.