Al Okhdood appoint Paulo Sergio as new head coach | OneFootball

Roshn Saudi League side Al Okhdood announced the appointment of Paulo Sergio as their new head coach until the end of the 2024-25 season.

The Portuguese tactician, 57, returns to Saudi Arabia for a second spell, having previously managed Al Taawoun in 13 RSL matches between August and December 2019, winning seven matches, drawing one and losing five before the Qassim club parted ways with him midway through the 2019-20 season.

Sergio’s 22-year managerial career took him to Scotland where he helped Hearts of Midlothian to a famous Scottish Cup triumph at the expense of city rivals Hibernian in 2011-12. He then moved to Romania where he led CFR Cluj to the knockout stage of the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League, before losing to Italian giants Inter. In Cyprus, Sergio helped APOEL FC win the Super Cup in 2013.

The new Al Okhdood boss’ Middle East experience is not limited to his time at Al Taawoun, having also coached UAE Pro League side Dibba and Iran Pro League side Sanat Naft Abadan.

The side from Najran have slipped into the relegation zone in their second season in the top flight, finding themselves in 17th place with just 16 points, three adrift of safety, with just one point collected from their last five matches. Sergio’s first encounter is a tricky away trip to Jeddah where his men take on league leaders Al Ittihad on Sunday.