Al Okhdood appoint Paulo Sergio as new head coach | OneFootball

Roshn Saudi League side Al Okhdood have confirmed 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. Back then, he won seven matches, drew one and lost five before parting ways with the Qassim club midway through the 2019-20 season.

Sergio’s 22-year managerial career has taken him to Scotland, where he helped Hearts of Midlothian to a famous Scottish Cup triumph at the expense of city rivals Hibernian in 2012.

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 Milan. In Cyprus, Sergio helped APOEL FC win the 2013 Super Cup.

The new Al Okhdood manager's Middle East experience is not limited to his time at Al Taawoun, though: he has also coached UAE Pro League side Dibba and Iran Pro League club Sanat Naft Abadan.

Al Okhdood have slipped into the relegation zone in their second season in the top flight, finding themselves in 17th place heading into Matchweek 23 with only 16 points, three adrift of safety.

Managed previously by Croat Stjepan Tomas and then for the past two RSL matches by Tunisian Ridha Jeddi, they collected one point from their past five matches. Sergio’s first encounter is a tricky away trip to Jeddah on Sunday, where his men take on league leaders Al Ittihad.