Inside Ittihad: How club CEO oversaw an on-pitch revolution at Jeddah giants

Inside Ittihad: How club CEO oversaw an on-pitch revolution at Jeddah giants
Al-Ittihad CEO Domingos Soares Oliveira (Supplied)
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Updated 17 February 2025
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Inside Ittihad: How club CEO oversaw an on-pitch revolution at Jeddah giants

Inside Ittihad: How club CEO oversaw an on-pitch revolution at Jeddah giants
  • In the final part of a series about the current Saudi Pro League leaders, Arab News spoke to Domingos Soares Oliveira about the club’s transformation since his arrival in 2023

Australia: When Domingos Soares Oliveira first walked through the doors at Al-Ittihad, on Oct. 1, 2023, the challenge in front of him was immense.

By that stage, the league had already attracted some of the world’s best talent as it began its rapid transformation. But the off-field operation had yet to catch up to the on-field capabilities. In some ways, the cart had been put before the horse.

The players had been signed without the requisite level of infrastructure, both physical and organisational, that they were accustomed to back in Europe. Quite hastily a new training headquarters was built at their training ground to bring the club up to the minimum standard required for an elite club in 2024.

Oliveira’s job as new CEO, therefore, was not only to transform the entire off-field operation, but to do so at a pace that allowed them to catch up with the ambition being shown on the pitch.

Everything was urgent. Everything was a priority. At the same time, he had to learn and adapt to his new surroundings and a new football culture, having spent his entire career in the more familiar surrounds of European football, spending close to 20 years with Portuguese giants Benfica before accepting the job with Al-Ittihad.

While the differences between the structures were vast, the passion for the game remained the same.

“There’re a lot of things that are different between clubs in Saudi and in our case, with Al-Ittihad, compared to Europe,” the 64-year-old told Arab News.

“But there’s something that is very similar, which is the passion from the fans. I’ve been in different parts of the globe, you have countries who are somehow trying to engage with the population around football, but there’s not a culture around football.

“But here, you have it, because you can see kids playing in the street in the morning or in the evening. You can see the passion in the stadiums. In our case, you have 60,000 people going to the matches. So, there’re a lot of similarities in the way people live football.”

But, as he explained, that is where the similarities end, which only underscores the size of the challenge that awaited Oliveira, one he described as the biggest of his career.

When he started, he estimates there were about 100 employees. Today he estimates that number at more than 300, which highlights the rapid rate of organisational growth that has taken place.

“The way clubs were organised,” he explained, “I don’t like to call it amateur, because, of course, coaches and players, have always been for the last, I would say, five decades, professionals. But in terms of organisation, it would rely very much on the people that were elected every year.

“So, there was not an organisation in the different departments, including football, the way we see in Europe with clubs organised in terms of having a proper scouting department, proper strategy and academies.

“When I joined the club, there was not a CFO (chief financial officer), there was not a sporting director, there was not a commercial director, there was not another sports manager.

“So the challenge since we saw the PIF (Public Investment Fund) acquisition of the four big clubs here in Saudi, the challenge was a big transformation from, let’s say, this way of organising things based on passion to something much more professional, which we have in place right now.”

He likened the job to that of a startup, albeit one with 97 years of history behind it.

“Following the PIF acquisition, in terms of strategy, in terms of value creation initiatives, in terms of defining KPIs, (key performance indicators) in terms of governance, in terms of compliance, we were a little bit like a startup,” he said.

“I always say we are a startup that is 97 years old, but we were like a startup. But inside an organisation like PIF, we need to prepare everything in terms of policies, in terms of procedures, in terms of strategy to fulfill the PIF requirements.

“We are not treated in a different way from a telecom company or from an airline company, the rules that we have to implement, the mechanisms that we have to implement, the reporting that we have to implement, the different committees we have inside the club, everything has to be done according to the PIF standards.”

Most urgent was an overhaul of the structures around the first team and the wider football department, which was made more challenging by the difficulties of the season, with the team struggling on the field, which led to Nuno Espirito Santo being replaced by Marcello Gallardo, who was then replaced at season’s end by Laurent Blanc.

But the structures that Oliveira had in mind were to exist regardless of who was in the hot seat; a system that remained consistent even were the club to change coaches.

The experienced Ramon Planes, a veteran of European football with the likes of Tottenham, Barcelona and Real Betis, was appointed as sporting director and given the remit of overseeing the entire football operation, from the first team to youth development and scouting.

Planes, Oliveira and the head coach, which this year is Frenchman Blanc, form the club’s sporting committee, with oversight of the club’s key football decisions, which include recruitment.

Where Planes led, others followed, with key personnel from Barcelona following him to Jeddah, including managing director, Franc Carbó, who was appointed head of strategy and football operations with Al-Ittihad.

Given Planes’ experience in Europe, particularly with Barcelona where he had an intimate insight into their famed youth development systems, it is no surprise to see Al-Ittihad adopt a similar strategy.

In the off-season the club targeted young Saudi players, completing the permanent moves for Faisal Al-Ghamdi (since loaned out to Beerschot) and Saad Al-Mousa, while their signing of Barcelona B star, Unai Hernandez, in January was a window into the future, one which is focused very much on youth development, according to Oliveira.

“We cannot only rely on players coming from abroad, because it’s not sustainable,” he said.

“It’s great that we can bring players like Karim Benzema or (N’Golo) Kante or Fabinho or Moussa Diaby or (Predrag) Rajkovic. We have very, very good international players (and) we want to keep some of them, but in terms of sustainability for the future, we need to develop the Saudi players.

“If we want to do something as a Kingdom, if we want to do something really relevant at the (2034) World Cup, it’s now that we have to start immediately developing this concept of having the best young Saudis trained the proper way.

“So, when you ask me about the long-term vision, that’s my long-term vision; it’s about having Saudi players that can feed the national team.”

Increasing on-field and off-field opportunities for those in Saudi Arabia is a key theme for Oliveira, who spoke frequently about his “Saudi-isation” push across the business.

“Part of my job is to increase the ‘Saudi-isation’ of the club,” he said.

“Our challenge at this stage in the football department is, in the coming two years, we need to increase the ‘Saudi-isation’ inside the football department, because at this stage, we rely very much on people coming from different countries.

“But we need to increase the Saudis, and we are doing this. We are bringing more Saudis in to train them so that they can run the football department in the future.”

Speaking of the future at Al-Ittihad, Oliveira, who cited increasing commercial revenues as a key area for improvement, would not put a limit on what was possible, but outlined more of his vision for Saudi Arabia’s oldest football club and again it came back to youth development.

“We need to develop the young Saudi players in a way that this club, in the future, can rely mostly on Saudi players,” he said.

“I do believe that in terms of commercial activities, in terms of TV rights, there will be a boost in terms of increasing the revenues that will allow the club to be financially sustainable. This will allow the club, in the next decade, to continue chasing the best players around the globe.

“But at the same time, we need Saudi players, different profiles in terms of Saudi players, and for that, you need to work with them at younger ages.

“Once they are under the Ittihad umbrella, we can take care of their education together with the parents. We can take care of their nutrition, we can take care of their physical development, mental development, competitive development. You can only do this if you have a very good youth strategy and very good people inside the youth department.

He continued: “I know that if we are able to put the best training facilities, considering that we’ll have the land for the new headquarters, together with a proper youth strategy, we will be able to have a gigantic centre of excellence here in Ittihad, which in my case, I deeply believe that we can fill the Saudi national team with probably the majority of their players, because we have the skills, we have the strategy, (and) we have the procedures to develop this strategy.

“If you ask me about 10 years from now, I want to develop the Saudi players the best way I can. And for that, I need facilities, I need a strategy, I need procedures, and I need something that we already have in Saudi, which is the raw material we have at the younger ages.

“We just need to take care of them and to develop them the right way.”

 


Camilo Villegas, Lucas Glover among those sharing Players Championship lead on wild day

Camilo Villegas, Lucas Glover among those sharing Players Championship lead on wild day
Updated 14 March 2025
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Camilo Villegas, Lucas Glover among those sharing Players Championship lead on wild day

Camilo Villegas, Lucas Glover among those sharing Players Championship lead on wild day
  • Lucas Glover had nine birdies in his round of 6-under 66, leaving him tied with Villegas and J.J. Spaun
  • Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler figures he left a few shots out there — two birdie chances were in the 8-foot range — but was satisfied enough with a 69

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida: Camilo Villegas was on the phone the day before The Players Championship trying to sort out his swing with a coach who is in Singapore caddying at a LIV Golf event. He wound up tied for the lead, a peculiar twist in a tournament filled with them.

Thursday was no exception.

Lucas Glover had nine birdies in his round of 6-under 66, leaving him tied with Villegas and J.J. Spaun, who managed to get around the TPC Sawgrass without a bogey.

Max McGreevy, who tied the tournament record for the highest score two years ago with an 89, had a chance to join them. He was at 5 under and faced a 15-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole when play was suspended by darkness.

Rory McIlroy made four birdies from tee shots that found the rough or the pine straw, including the 18th hole when he punched a shot off the pine straw and out of the trees to 7 feet, putting him in the group at 67.

“You’re just hoping for a backswing and a gap, and I had both of those,” McIlroy said. “Just trying to chip-and-run a 5-iron up around the front of the green and make 4 and get out of there. It was a bonus to get it up on the green and hole the putt was a lovely way to finish.”

Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler figures he left a few shots out there — two birdie chances were in the 8-foot range — but was satisfied enough with a 69.

Villegas was on the verge of losing his card two years ago when he connected with Jose Luis Campra, a respected Argentine professional who caddies on the side. He currently is looping for Sebastian Munoz on LIV, which is in Singapore this week.

“It was 9 a.m. here, it was 9 p.m. there,” Villegas said. “We worked for a couple hours. He’s a very, very hard worker. Very few guys give more golf lessons than Jose Campra, and he’s always available for me. So it’s great.”

It was a small tweak on the downswing, and Villegas took that to the dangerous Stadium Course and promptly made five birdies on the back nine to start his round. There were a few mistakes, typical for most players.

That’s what this course does. Slight misses can turn into big numbers.

Chandler Phillips experienced both. He set a Players Championship record with three eagles. He also had four birdies, an astonishing performance wiped out by a triple bogey on the par-3 eighth hole that started with a tee shot into a palmetto bush.

Justin Lower had the best par of all. He was one of 10 players to hit their tee shots into the water on the island green at the par-3 17th. He was the only player to walk away with par, going to the drop zone and holing his wedge.

Max Greyserman wasn’t so fortunate. He put two in the water and had to make a 12-foot putt for his quadruple bogey.

Glover isn’t sure what to make of his record at the TPC Sawgrass, 10 times missing the cut with only two top 10s. But there was no big secret on this day. He hit it where he was aiming and made putts, with birdies on his final four holes.

It stood out amid some surprising scores on a gorgeous day. Justin Thomas hit four tee shots into the water and had to birdie the last two holes for a 78. Viktor Hovland had three double bogeys in his round of 80.

Jordan Spieth had an eagle, birdie, par, bogey and double bogey in his opening six holes. He played far boring golf — which he prefers — with seven pars, a birdie and a bogey on the back nine and it added to a 70.

“That’s the thing about this place,” Glover said. “There’s always some really good scores and always some really bad scores. The margins are razor thin here, akin to say Augusta or Bay Hill. You get off just a little, you can make big numbers in a hurry.

“I happened to have a bunch of good numbers today and a bunch of good yardages and was able to be aggressive and I putted great.”

Glover was not immune. He was too aggressive on the par-5 11th with a wedge and wound up in a pot-shaped bunker for bogey. He dropped another shot on the next hole.

But it was the finish that set him apart — an approach to 5 feet on the 15th, a chip to tap-in range on the par-5 16th, an 18-foot birdie putt on the island green par-3 17th and a shot that caught the slope and fed down to 8 feet for birdie on the 18th.

The 45-year-old former US Open champion is having a late resurgence in his career, particularly impressive from having overcome the putting yips about a decade ago. He never gave up the grind and finally cashed in by winning the Wyndham Championship and the opening FedEx Cup playoff event in consecutive weeks in 2023.

“Just don’t want to be done at 45, honestly,” Glover said. “I deep down believe I can still compete out here at 45 and I don’t want to stop anytime soon.”

McGreevy was among five players who didn’t finish before darkness. He was to resume at 8 a.m., and then everyone gets to do it all over again.


Nico Williams fires Bilbao into Europa League quarters, Eintracht hammer Ajax

Nico Williams fires Bilbao into Europa League quarters, Eintracht hammer Ajax
Updated 14 March 2025
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Nico Williams fires Bilbao into Europa League quarters, Eintracht hammer Ajax

Nico Williams fires Bilbao into Europa League quarters, Eintracht hammer Ajax
  • A bullet Yuri Berchiche header from a corner gave the Basques a 2-0 lead in the 68th minute
  • Goals by Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Hugo Ekitike, as well as a Mario Goetze brace, handed Eintracht Frankfurt a 4-1 home win against Ajax

PARIS: Athletic Bilbao beat 10-man Roma 3-1 in their Europa League last-16 second leg on Thursday, while Eintracht Frankfurt put four past Ajax to book their place in the quarter-finals with a 6-2 aggregate win.
Euro 2024 winner Nico Williams grabbed a vital brace as Bilbao overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit to progress 4-3 on aggregate against the Italians.
The tie swung dramatically in the hosts’ favor in the 11th minute when veteran Roma center-half Mats Hummels received a straight red card for a last-man tackle on Maroan Sannadi.
Bilbao cranked up the pressure and finally found the breakthrough they were so desperately craving three minutes into first-half additional time.
Inaki Williams’ cross from the left traveled all the way across the box to his brother at the back post who shot first time, his goalbound effort taking a wicked deflection off Angelino to beat Mile Svilar.
A bullet Yuri Berchiche header from a corner gave the Basques a 2-0 lead in the 68th minute at the San Mames and Nico Williams grabbed a fine second eight minutes from time.
A 93rd-minute penalty by Leandro Paredes gave the Romans hope in the final seconds, but Bilbao held firm.
It was a better evening for fellow Italian capital club Lazio, who progressed 3-2 on aggregate against Viktoria Plzen.
Pavel Sulc levelled the tie for the Czechs shortly after half-time, but Alessio Romagnoli nodded in a corner with 19 minutes remaining to tie the score at 1-1 in the Stadio Olimpico and send Lazio through.
Elsewhere in the Europa League, goals by Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Hugo Ekitike, as well as a Mario Goetze brace, handed Eintracht Frankfurt a 4-1 home win against Ajax.
The German side progressed to the next stage with a 6-2 win over both legs.
Norwegians Bodo/Glimt lost 2-1 against reigning Europa Conference League champions Olympiakos in Athens, but went through 4-2 on aggregate.
Later, Premier League sides Manchester United and Tottenham have work to do if they are to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League when they host Real Sociedad and AZ Alkmaar, respectively.
Chelsea welcome Copenhagen to Stamford Bridge in the Conference League, also at 2000 GMT.
Enzo Maresca’s side hold a 2-1 first-leg advantage over the Danes as they seek to reach the last eight.


Mbappe returns to France squad as PSG’s Doue earns first call-up

Mbappe returns to France squad as PSG’s Doue earns first call-up
Updated 13 March 2025
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Mbappe returns to France squad as PSG’s Doue earns first call-up

Mbappe returns to France squad as PSG’s Doue earns first call-up
  • Mbappe, 26, was left out of the last two France squads by coach Didier Deschamps for the Nations League group stage in October and November
  • Deschamps said at the time that his decision to do without Mbappe was “for the best” due to the noise surrounding the striker

PARIS: Captain Kylian Mbappe returned to the France squad named Thursday for this month’s UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Croatia, as Paris Saint-Germain teenager Desire Doue earned a first call-up.
Mbappe, 26, was left out of the last two France squads by coach Didier Deschamps for the Nations League group stage in October and November.
The Real Madrid superstar was initially dropped because of fitness concerns, before later being left out amidst headlines about his private life.
Deschamps said at the time that his decision to do without Mbappe was “for the best” due to the noise surrounding the striker.
Mbappe has been in fine form for Real in the months since and has scored 28 goals in all competitions this season for the club he joined last year.
“I have chatted with him and I confirm what I already said a few weeks ago, that he will be the captain,” Deschamps said in response to questions about Mbappe’s ongoing role as skipper.
The versatile Doue, meanwhile, has been rewarded for his impressive club form.
The 19-year-old has scored or set up a total of 17 goals in 23 appearances since becoming a regular in the PSG side in mid-December.
Capable of playing as a winger as well as in midfield, Doue was outstanding after coming off the bench for PSG in Tuesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg against Liverpool, and scored the winning kick in the penalty shoot-out.
Signed by PSG from Rennes for a reported 50 million euros ($54.1m) in August, Doue was part of Thierry Henry’s France Under-23 team that won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics last year.
“He is not always a starter for his club but whenever he plays or comes on he has made a lot of progress,” Deschamps said.
“He is a very young player but he is an interesting one for us. I could have waited but I have called him up now because I think it is the right time.”
France face Croatia away in Split in the first leg of the quarter-final next Thursday, March 20, in a tie that is a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final won by Les Bleus.
The sides will clash in the second leg at the Stade de France on Sunday, March 23.
The winners will advance to the final four, which will take place in either Italy or Germany in June.
N’Golo Kante is the most notable absentee from the squad, with Deschamps revealing that the Saudi Arabia-based midfielder has been nursing a minor muscle injury.

Squad Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan/ITA), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue (all Paris Saint-Germain), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus/ITA, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Michael Olize (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)


Kimmich extends Bayern contract until 2029

Kimmich extends Bayern contract until 2029
Updated 13 March 2025
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Kimmich extends Bayern contract until 2029

Kimmich extends Bayern contract until 2029
  • Germany international Kimmich said he made his decision because Bayern is “the best environment to achieve my sporting goals”
  • “I feel at home here and I’m not finished yet“

BERLIN: Bayern Munich on Thursday announced Joshua Kimmich had signed a four-year extension to his contract that had been set to expire at the end of the season.
Germany international Kimmich said he made his decision because Bayern is “the best environment to achieve my sporting goals.
“There’s currently no better package of teammates, coaching staff and club environment for me to achieve maximum success. I feel at home here and I’m not finished yet.”
After Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen sent Bayern through to the Champions League quarter-finals, Kimmich told reporters he was set to prolong his stay at the club.


After speculation he could leave Bayern in previous seasons, Kimmich has rediscovered his best form in midfield under Vincent Kompany, having played every minute in the Bundesliga until picking up a minor injury in February.
Kimmich, already the national team captain, is viewed as the successor to current Bayern skipper Manuel Neuer.
Sporting director Christoph Freund called the 30-year-old Kimmich “a driving force that will tirelessly drive Bayern forward in the future.”
Kimmich’s new contract is the latest in several extended deals in 2025 as Bayern seek to shore up their future, with Neuer, Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies all recently extending their contracts.
Kimmich signed for Bayern from Stuttgart in 2015 after a two-year spell at RB Leipzig and has made 429 appearances for Bayern, scoring 43 goals and providing 115 assists.
At Bayern, Kimmich has won eight Bundesliga titles and lifted the Champions League in 2020.
Kimmich has also played 97 times for Germany.
Eight points clear of defending champions Leverkusen, Bayern are on track to win back the Bundesliga title.
They will face Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals, with this season’s final to be held in Munich in May.


Esports World Cup Foundation announces multi-year partnership with Capcom

Esports World Cup Foundation announces multi-year partnership with Capcom
Updated 13 March 2025
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Esports World Cup Foundation announces multi-year partnership with Capcom

Esports World Cup Foundation announces multi-year partnership with Capcom
  • The Capcom Pro Tour and Street Fighter League integrated into the EWC ecosystem for the next three years

RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation and Capcom have announced a multi-year partnership that integrates the Street Fighter e-sports ecosystem — Capcom’s Capcom Pro Tour and Street Fighter League — into the Esports World Cup for the next three years.

“Street Fighter has been at the heart of competitive gaming for decades, offering a pure test of individual skill, just you against your opponent,” said Fabian Scheuermann, chief games officer at EWCF.

“Its arcade roots created a social experience that still thrives today, from local communities to global arenas. Together with Capcom, we are creating new ways for fans and players to experience the game, while unifying the competitive ecosystem and ensuring the best players have a clear path to the biggest stage.

“Fighting games are a true test of skill, strategy, and resilience, and by bringing the Street Fighter 6 circuit to EWC, we are celebrating its legacy with a new generation of players and fans, strengthening its role in the wider gaming culture.”

As part of the agreement, the top eight players from Capcom Cup 11— the pinnacle of the Capcom Pro Tour (CPT)  — and 12 players from the Street Fighter League: World Championship, featuring elite competitors from Japan, the US and Europe, will earn direct qualification for the EWC 2025 Street Fighter 6 Finals.

An additional 10 slots will be awarded to winners of Capcom Pro Tour 2025 events, including Evo Japan and Vegas, CPT Combo Breaker, Blink Respawn, and CPT CEO, leading up to August 2025.

The remaining slots will be available to winners of professional and grassroots Street Fighter 6 events worldwide, including the EWC Last Chance Qualifiers in August 2025, culminating in 48 players competing on stage at the Street Fighter 6 Finals in Riyadh.

The partnership follows the previously announced return of Street Fighter 6 to EWC 2025, and kicks off on March 9, 2025 at the Street Fighter League: World Championship event in Ryogoku Kokugikan, Japan.

“Through the Capcom Pro Tour and Capcom Cup, Street Fighter has been a cornerstone of the e-sports scene for the past 10 years, celebrated for its fast-paced action, dramatic comebacks, and clutch moments that make it one of the most thrilling games to play and watch,” said Shuhei Matsumoto, producer, Street Fighter 6. “Our partnership with the Esports World Cup fosters an even deeper engagement between our players, fans and audiences worldwide. And this is just the beginning, together with EWC, we will continue to grow and innovate, and inspire the next generation of players.”

Street Fighter 6 made history as the first fighting game to join the inaugural Esports World Cup last summer, with qualifiers held around the world to enable grassroots participants to secure a spot on a pathway to the tournament. With 32 elite players from around the globe, the competition drew a viewing audience of more than six million. The event concluded with the dramatic EWC Street Fighter 6 Finals where the fighting game veteran, Zeng “Xiao Hai” Zhuojun, cemented his legacy with a dominant performance and a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool.