Al Nassr appoint Stefano Pioli as manager

Al Nassr have installed former AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli as their new head coach.

The Italian, 58, was confirmed on Wednesday as the successor to Luis Castro, who parted company with the Riyadh club on Tuesday. Pioli, who has never managed outside of his homeland, has previously coached a number of clubs in Serie A, including Palermo, Bologna, Lazio, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and AC Milan.

Most recently, he was in charge of the latter, whom during a near-five-year spell from 2019, he guided to the 2021-22 Serie A title – AC Milan's first Scudetto since 2011. He was later voted the league’s manager of the season. Pioli left the San Siro club in May, following the club’s second-placed finish in the league. However, they came home 19 points behind city rivals Inter Milan.

At Al Nassr, Pioli will once again work with Marcelo Brozovic having managed the Croatia midfielder for a brief period at Inter Milan from late 2016.

With three matchweeks played in the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League, Al Nassr sit seventh in the table having won one and drawn two of their games thus far. The capital side, runners-up last season under Castro, travel to Dammam on Matchweek 4, for a clash with Al Ettifaq. Steven Gerrard’s side are third in the standings following three wins from three.