Postecoglou rewarded for perfect Al Nassr start in Roshn Saudi League awards

Ange Postecoglou has been named the Roshn Saudi League’s best manager for August after guiding Al Nassr to four wins from four matches, leaving Al Hilal manager Simone Inzaghi without the monthly coaching award despite his side leading the table on goal difference.

The league announced its August prize winners, with Postecoglou recognised after Al Nassr made an outstanding start to the campaign. His players scored 12 goals across their opening four matches – an average of three per game – and conceded only three.

Al Nassr are second in the Roshn Saudi League standings, level on points with Al Hilal but behind them on goal difference. The league leaders have scored 15 goals in their first four fixtures, averaging almost four per match, while also conceding three.

Although Inzaghi missed out on the managerial award, one of his key players was recognised. Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves was named the league’s best player for August.

The Portugal international started all four of Al Hilal’s opening matches and made a direct contribution to four goals, scoring twice and providing two assists.

Neves was not the only Al Hilal player to receive an award. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was selected as the Roshn Saudi League’s best goalkeeper for the month.

Bounou played in each of Al Hilal’s first four league games and conceded three goals. He also recorded two clean sheets during that run.

The other goalkeeper included among the monthly winners was Hamed Al-Shanqiti, the 21-year-old Al-Kholood goalkeeper who is on loan from Al-Ittihad. He was named the league’s best promising player for August.

Al-Shanqiti featured in all four of Al-Kholood’s opening Roshn Saudi League matches. He conceded five goals during those games and did not keep a clean sheet in any of them.

The awards created a rare goalkeeper double in the league’s monthly honours, with Bounou winning the best goalkeeper prize and Al-Shanqiti receiving the award for best promising player.

The recognition for Postecoglou reflects Al Nassr’s flawless beginning to the season, while the individual awards for Neves and Bounou underline Al Hilal’s strong start under Inzaghi. Despite the club’s superior goal difference and position at the top of the table, the Italian was beaten to the managerial prize by his fellow coach after the league’s August assessment.