After Al Nassr secured the 2025/2026 Saudi Pro League title, head coach Jorge Jesus announced a surprising decision. The Portuguese tactician confirmed he is ending his tenure at the Riyadh club.
According to Jesus, he accepted the Al Nassr job primarily due to a promise he made to Cristiano Ronaldo. The coach told the Portuguese star he would help him win the championship and would leave once that goal was achieved.
“I only accepted this challenge because I told Cristiano: ‘I will help you become a champion, we will win the trophy, and then I will leave.’ That’s it. For me, the mission is accomplished. This was my last game as Al Nassr head coach,” Fabrizio Romano quoted Jesus as saying.
This statement came as a surprise to Al Nassr fans. Jesus led the team to the title, surpassing Al Hilal in a competitive season and delivering a long-awaited achievement. His departure shows that in football, not everything is measured solely by results.
The Portuguese coach took charge of Al Nassr in August 2025. In a short time, he instilled discipline, confidence, and a winning mentality. At the end of the season, the Riyadh club finished first in the Saudi Pro League table with 86 points.
The main rival, Al Hilal, finished second with 84 points. The title race was decided in a very tight battle. Al Nassr played under pressure until the final matchday but maintained their composure to reach their goal.
This championship holds special historical significance for Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward and team captain became a Saudi Arabian champion for the first time. He had been fighting for this trophy since arriving in Riyadh and finally achieved his dream.
Jesus' departure raises new questions for Al Nassr. The champions must now search for a new coach, and Ronaldo and the club management will need to find a way to maintain this momentum next season. Winning the title is hard, but defending it is even harder.
In short, Jorge Jesus fulfilled his mission at Al Nassr: he brought the title to Ronaldo, turned the club into the strongest in the country, and announced his departure. It is a rare scenario in football: a coach arrived, made a promise, fulfilled it, and left the stage. The question now is: can Al Nassr continue this winning era without Jesus?
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