Saudi champions Al Hilal have terminated the contract of head coach Razvan Lucescu and his assistants following a run of poor results.
The Riyadh club made the announcement early on Monday, not long after the 2019 Asian champions were beaten 1-0 by Damac FC. Their second defeat in three matches, the loss leaves Hilal third in the Saudi Pro League, five points off leaders Al Shabab. Last month, they lost 3-0 in the Super Cup to rivals Al Nassr.
📃 #AlHilal Signs a Mutual Termination Agreement with “Razvan”..
— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) February 14, 2021
and Appoint the Brazilian coach “Rogério Micale” pic.twitter.com/MbBMzhD8Qc
Despite the indifferent form, Lucescu remained a popular figure among Hilal supporters thanks primarily to the club's Asian success in 2019. The Romanian, 51, guided Hilal to the Champions League trophy – they defeated Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0 on aggregate - to end a 19-year wait for the continent's premier club prize. Hilal would go on to seal the domestic league and Saudi King Cup double.
In a statement on Monday, the club said: “The board of directors decided to sign a mutual termination agreement with the Romanian manager of Al Hilal Razvan Lucescu, expressing gratitude and appreciation to Razvan and his assistants for their efforts during their career at the club.
“The board of directors has also decided to appoint the Brazilian head coach of Al Hilal U19 football team Rogerio Micale to be in charge of the first team during the next period, starting from today Monday’s training session.”
A former goalkeeper in his native Brazil, Micale led his country to the Under 20 Fifa World Cup final in 2015 and then to gold at the Rio Olympics the following year. He has since managed a number of clubs in his homeland.
Hilal’s 2021 Champions League campaign begins in April, with a Group A that comprises Dubai’s Shabab Al Ahli and Tajikistan side FC Istiklol. The pool’s fourth team will be decided via a play-off. All matches are to be played in centralised venues.
