From Greece to Green Falcons: Why Donis is right man for Saudi Arabia | OneFootball

Georgios Donis never got to go to the FIFA World Cup as a player, which is probably no surprise given his national team, Greece, qualified only once between 1954 and 2006.

Donis came closest in 1994, coincidentally when the tournament was last held in the United States, the only time Greece made it to a global finals in that 52-year period.

At the time plying his club trade at Greek giants Panathinaikos, Donis was something of a surprise omission from Alketas Panagoulias’ final 22-player squad.

But now, less than two months before the 2026 iteration begins, the 56-year-old is about to get his chance to finally appear at football’s marquee event as a manager, following confirmation on Thursday night that he's the new Saudi Arabia head coach. He replaces Herve Renard.

Donis was considered a pioneer in his playing career, becoming the first Greek footballer to feature in the English Premier League after signing for Blackburn Rovers in 1996.

He proved a trailblazer, too, when he arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2014, the first from his homeland to manage a club in the Kingdom’s top flight. Initially with Al Hilal, he lead the capital club to King’s Cup, Crown Prince Cup and Saudi Super Cup.

That ground-breaking spirit should serve Donis well in his latest post, since he takes over the Green Falcons with little more than 50 days until their opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Uruguay. That takes place in Miami on June 15.

Saudi Arabia players dance in delight after booking berth at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Most coaches spend years planning and preparing teams for the biggest tournament in world football. Donis, though, has less than two months, without a camp or an official match to utilise before having to name his provisional squad next month. That first date on his Saudi Arabia calendar comes in less than three weeks.

Yet, it clear to see what the Saudi Arabian Football Federation opted for Donis. With his extensive experience working in the Roshn Saudi League, if there is anyone that can do it, it is the veritable league veteran.

So what exactly makes Donis a natural choice to succeed Renard?

Saudi Arabia manager Herve Renard at 2026 FIFA World Cup draw

First and foremost, it’s his familiarity with Saudi football and the players of the RSL. The former Greece midfielder has worked off-and-on in the Saudi top flight for much of the 11 years, with spells at Al Hilal, Al Wehda - twice - Al Fateh and, until this week, Al Khaleej.

Across that time, Donis has personally coached as many as 10 players who were either in the most recent senior squad or been involved in camps during the past few international windows.

At Al Hilal, he worked with the likes of Salem Al Dawsari and Salman Al Faraj, veterans of the national team who bring a wealth of elite-bracket knowledge. At Al Fateh, there were, among others, Feras Al Buriakan, with the 25-year-old striker blossoming under his tutelage in the 2022-23 season.

Feras Al Buraikan scores for Saudi Arabia v Indonesia in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Then, Al Buraikan scored 17 goals to earn his move to Al Ahli the following season. He has since gone on to become an Asian club champion; on Saturday, Al Buraikan has the chance to capture back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles.

More recently, at Al Khaleej, Donis helped unearth Murad Hawsawi, whose form for the East Coast club earned the young midfielder a call-up to the national team. In January, a superb start to the campaign personally, which matched Al Khaleej’s, prompted a transfer to Al Hilal, on a five-year deal.

Clearly, Donis knows Hawsawi’s game inside and out and, with limited time, he will no doubt lean on those he can trust the most. Thus, it might open the door for Hawsawi to play a prominent role in North America.

Then there is Donis’ style. Nicknamed “The Train” at Panathinaikos for his speed as a player, Donis prefers a more front-footed, attacking philosophy. While flexible in approach, he prioritises a 4-2-3-1 formation, although he has also used 4-4-2 and 5-3-2 (or 3-5-2 depending on how you view the game) at times.

What is notable, though, especially for a Saudi side that has struggled to find the back of the net - seven goals in 10 matches across the third round of qualification - is how free-scoring his sides have been relative to their status and league position.

While Al Khaleej’s form this season tapered after their fast start - spearheaded by Konstantinos Fortounis and Joshua King, they sat sixth in the RSL after 10 rounds - they’ve scored more goals (46) than any side outside the top five.

The same was true at Al Fateh in 2022-23, when their tally of 48 goals was more than any team bar the top four. Then, Donis masterminded a sixth-placed finish. It marked the Al Ahsa club's best performance since coming home fifth in 2017-18.

The flip side, however, is that Donis’ teams have also tended to concede a lot of goals, so that will be an area of intense focus now with Saudi Arabia for the ex-Al Khaleej manager and his coaching staff.

After a strong tenure at Al Khaleej, Georgios Donis is focused now on Saudi Arabia

Of course, they must ensure they get the balance right between attack and defence. Remember, at the summer World Cup, and after opening against two-time winners Uruguay, the national team face world No.1 Spain, and debutants Cape Verde.

You can be certain, however, that Donis will embrace the assignment. Evidently, he has never been afraid to forge new paths or take on fresh challenges. For a player who never got to sample football’s showpiece tournament, he had been granted an opportunity of a lifetime.