Rulani Mokwena resigns as Al-Ittihad head coach after five months amid transfer disagreements – Reports

South African coach Rulani Mokwena has resigned as head coach of Libyan side Al-Ittihad, bringing an abrupt end to his five-month spell at the club following reported disagreements with the board over the team’s direction.

Mokwena, regarded as one of Africa’s brightest young coaches, took charge of Al-Ittihad earlier this year after leaving Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club.

His appointment was seen as the start of an ambitious rebuilding project, but the partnership has ended sooner than expected after a campaign that failed to deliver silverware.

Earlier, AfricaSoccer.com revealed that the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach was considering leaving the club due to a breakdown in relations with the hierarchy.

Those reports have now been reinforced, with sources revealing that differences over Al-Ittihad’s transfer strategy played a decisive role in his resignation.

According to sources close to the club, Mokwena became frustrated after Al-Ittihad failed to sign several of his priority transfer targets during the recruitment window.

Instead, a number of those players reportedly joined rival clubs in Libya, leaving the coach dissatisfied with the squad-building process ahead of the new season.

The lack of alignment between the coach and the club’s leadership is understood to have widened after a trophyless campaign, with Al-Ittihad’s board demanding immediate success rather than committing to a longer-term rebuilding project.

A source close to the club said the board was unconvinced by Mokwena’s long-term vision, believing the club could not afford to wait another one or two seasons before challenging for major honours.

The development marks another short-lived managerial stint for the 38-year-old, who has earned widespread praise across the continent for his tactical approach and progressive style of football.

After enjoying considerable success with Mamelodi Sundowns, Mokwena has now experienced back-to-back brief spells away from South Africa following his exits from Wydad Athletic Club and Al-Ittihad.

Despite his departure, Mokwena is not expected to remain out of work for long. Reports have already linked him with Egyptian champions Pyramids, who are said to be considering the South African as a potential successor in their dugout.

Neither Al-Ittihad nor Mokwena has officially commented on the reports surrounding his exit or his possible next destination.

With his reputation still highly regarded across African football, attention is now likely to turn to where the highly rated coach continues his managerial career, as speculation over a move to Pyramids gathers momentum.