Back at Al Okhdood, Ben Zekri conjures memories of that viral celebration

Given the popularity of the viral video, some might expect Al Kholood manager Noureddine Ben Zekri to run from Ar Rass to Najran this weekend.

No matter his mode of transport, however, you can be sure the Algerian will be welcomed with open arms at his former employers. Without him, it is wholly plausible Al Okhdood would not be facing Ben Zekri’s current side on Thursday. Nor contesting the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League at all.

For last season, when the club had decided on a second managerial change of the campaign, Ben Zekri was parachuted into Najran with a crystal-clear remit. With Al Okhdood 16th in the standings, they lay one point from safety with seven matches remaining. They were in distinct danger of relegation.

So, they did what others before them had done. They turned to Ben Zekri, who in previous positions had earned the reputation of the RSL’s very own “survival specialist”. To be fair, the moniker was well warranted.

In 2013-14, he guided a flagging Al Raed to safety, then achieved the same feat with Al Fayha. In 2019-20, Ben Zekri did likewise when he arrived at Damac in December with the club rooted to the bottom of the table. From there, he produced the greatest of great escapes, masterminding a run of seven unbeaten matches, including five wins during that spell. With it, Damac concluded campaign in 10th place, three points from the drop.

Last term, Ben Zekri only burnished his billing. Appointed in April, Al Okhdood won two and drew three in that seven-game closing stretch, culminating in the final-day, 2-0 victory at Al Tai. Top-flight status secure, cue that now-famous Ben Zekri celebration, the 59-year-old taking off across the pitch at speed, his players trailing in his wake.

It will be intriguing, now, to see what he can do at Al Kholood. Installed as Paulo Duarte’s successor after Matchweek 6 last month, Ben Zekri has been granted more time than usual to work his particular brand of magic.

Upon his arrival, Al Kholood had won once in six RSL games, four of which were defeats. However, the new-manager bounce propelled them to three successive draws, including a thrilling 3-3 encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and a 1-1 at a tricky Al Taawoun.

Progress, though, has been stunted by defeats either side of this month’s FIFA international break. In Matchweek 10, Al Kholood were beaten 2-0 at home by Al Shabab, before going down 2-1 last Sunday at Damac.

As a result, the Ar Rass side have slipped back to into the relegation zone, where they languish 16th. Yet victory at Ben Zekri's old hunting ground this week would see Al Kholood leapfrog 14th-placed Al Okhdood in the standings.

For sure, that would not elicit the same response as that memorable May day at Al Tai; not purely because we are far from deciding who goes down, but also out of Ben Zekri’s undoubted respect for his former club.

This time, he would presumably much prefer his players’ feet to garner the headlines.