Cristiano Ronaldo club Al Nassr fire head coach Castro

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club,  Al Nassr, are looking for a new coach after firing Luis Castro on Tuesday, the second managerial change since the Portugal star’s arrival.

Castro, 63, had overseen a slow start to the new Saudi Pro League season, with just one win in three games.

“Al Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club,” the club said on social media. “Everyone at Al Nassr would like to thank Luis and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 14 months, wishing them the best of luck for the future.”

The Riyadh club drew 1-1 against Al Shorta of Iraq on Monday in the opening game of the AFC Champions League Elite.

In April 2023, coach Rudi Garcia left Al Nassr after failing to secure first place despite Ronaldo’s arrival four months prior.

According to domestic media, Stefano Pioli, who managed AC Milan to the Serie A title in 2022 and is available after leaving the club in May, is on the list of Al Nassr’s preferred replacements.

Castro, a former Porto coach, failed to win a major trophy in Saudi Arabia after taking the job in July 2023 following more than a season in charge of Brazilian club Botafogo.

Despite Castro having stars such as Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and Aymeric Laporte, Al Nassr finished second by a 14-point margin to Riyadh rival Al Hilal last season.

Under Castro, Al Nassr also missed out in knockout competitions to the same opposition.