AL NASSR have parted company with manager Rudi Garcia and appointed his replacement less than half an hour later.
The club’s under-19 coach Dinko Jelicic was handed the job of getting the Saudi side back on track and managing stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
Garcia leaves the club in second place of the Saudi Pro League, three points behind Al-Ittihad Club.
The club released a statement that read: “Al Nassr can announce that Head Coach Rudi Garcia has left the Club by mutual agreement.
“The board and everyone at Al Nassr would like to thank Rudi and his staff for their dedicated work during the past eight months.”
Garcia, 59, took charge of the Middle Eastern side in June 2022.
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The ex-Marseille and Roma boss won 18 of his 26 games at the helm, losing just three times.
But with Al Nassr now falling behind in the title race, the 2011 Ligue 1 winner with Lille has been given his marching orders.
Stunning reports on Wednesday claim a bust-up with Ronaldo also played a huge role in Garcia’s downfall.
Garcia is said to have clashed with several other players, prompting Ronaldo to seek talks with Al Nassr chiefs.
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And the club’s title hopes now lie with youth coach Jelicic.
The Croatian gaffer’s last job as a first-team manager was in his homeland with NK Kustosija.
Before that, he was academy manager at Alaves.
And Jelicic also enjoyed a spell as Croatia U20s boss.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
