Saad Al-Shehri

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Lore & Background

Saad Al-Shehri's managerial rise began in 2008 with the Eastern Region Education Team, where he coached future internationals like Yasser Al-Shahrani and Abdullah Al-Hafith. In 2010, he took charge of Al-Qadsiah's U17 team, achieving promotion to the Premier League and avoiding relegation the following season before winning the 2011–12 U19 title. His success extended to Al-Nassr's U19 squad, which he led to the 2014–2015 championship. A brief stint with Al-Nahda in June 2017 ended quickly due to administrative cancellation, leading him to manage Al-Ettifaq's U23 team. In December 2017, following Miodrag Ješić's dismissal, Al-Shehri took over the first team. Starting from second bottom with just 12 points, he engineered a dramatic turnaround: defeating third-placed Al-Nassr 3–2 and holding league leaders Al-Hilal to a 1–1 draw. After an eight-game unbeaten run that included victories over Al-Qadsiah and Al-Hilal, his side finished fourth—their best performance since the 2010–11 season.

In Their Own Story

On March 15, 2018, Saad Al-Shehri took full-time charge of the Saudi Arabia U23 national team. His first major test was the 2018 Asian Games, where he led the squad to the quarter-finals after a goalless draw with Iran and a 3–0 win over Myanmar. The team's defining moment came at the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship. After defeating Japan 2–1 in the opener thanks to a late penalty by Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Saudi Arabia topped their group. They eliminated hosts Thailand 1–0 and reigning champions Uzbekistan to reach the final. Despite losing to South Korea after extra time, this run secured qualification for the 2020 Summer Olympics, the first since 1996. Redemption arrived in 2022 at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Saudi Arabia topped Group D with a 5–0 win over Tajikistan and a draw against Japan. They defeated Vietnam 2–0 and Australia 2–0 to reach the final against hosts Uzbekistan. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi broke the deadlock in the 48th minute, and Firas Al-Buraikan sealed the victory in the 74th minute, giving Al-Shehri his first major trophy with the national team.

Reader's Guide

Saad Al-Shehri's tactical adaptability was evident during his interim role for the senior Saudi Arabia national team starting December 23, 2022. Fielding a mix of U23 players and uncapped seniors for the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup, he guided the squad to a single win against Yemen before an early group stage exit. Following Hervé Renard's resignation, Al-Shehri returned as interim coach. His most significant achievements remain with the youth setup. In November 2022, he secured another title by defeating Qatar 3–1 in the final of the WAFF U-23 Championship, avenging a previous second-place finish. Throughout his tenure, Al-Shehri maintained a consistent philosophy of development and resilience, evident when his Al-Ettifaq team held first-placed Al-Hilal to a draw while sitting near the relegation zone. His ability to integrate fresh faces with experienced players was crucial in the 2022 Asian Cup campaign, where he retained key veterans from the Olympic squad while introducing new talent.

Did You Know?

• Saad Al-Shehri coached future Saudi international Yasser Al-Shahrani during his time with the Eastern Region Education Team in 2008.
• In December 2017, he took over Al-Ettifaq when they were second bottom with only 12 points from 12 matches and led them to a fourth-place finish.
• His contract with Al-Nahda was signed on June 16, 2017, but canceled for administrative reasons just one month later on July 13, 2017.
• Under his management, Saudi Arabia U23 won their first-ever AFC U-23 Asian Cup title in 2022 by defeating hosts Uzbekistan 2–0 in the final.
• He led the Saudi Arabia U20 team to a historic Round of 16 finish at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, matching their best-ever performance.