Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal future under review after shock NEOM defeat

Simone Inzaghi’s position as Al Hilal manager is under threat following the Saudi club’s unexpected 2-0 defeat by NEOM in the Roshn Saudi League.

Al Hilal were beaten by NEOM at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Monday, in the sixth round of the league season. It was Inzaghi’s first defeat in the competition since taking charge of the club, but reports in Saudi Arabia suggest his longer-term future is now being assessed.

According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al Hilal’s new sporting director Richard Hughes is examining the options surrounding the club’s coaching structure. Inzaghi’s position has been placed under review as Hughes begins evaluating the team’s performances and technical direction.

The Scottish sporting director and his staff will monitor Al Hilal’s progress over the coming weeks, with particular attention expected to be paid to the period before the lengthy interruption caused by the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

The Roshn Saudi League is scheduled to pause from 16 December until 11 February 2027 while Saudi Arabia hosts the tournament. Al Hilal’s performances before that break are expected to play a significant role in determining whether Inzaghi remains in charge.

If the club’s technical indicators show clear improvement, Inzaghi and his coaching staff could stay in their roles. Under that scenario, Al Hilal would postpone the appointment of a new head coach until next summer.

However, if the team’s performances continue to decline, dismissing Inzaghi would become the more likely outcome. Al Hilal would then seek to appoint a replacement during the Asian Cup break, giving the new manager time to work with the squad before the league resumes.

Any potential successor would be expected to fit the way Al Hilal’s squad was assembled during the most recent summer transfer window. The club would prefer a coach whose approach is compatible with the current team, avoiding the need for extensive changes to the playing group.

Inzaghi’s contract with Al Hilal runs until the end of the current season. He took charge at the start of last season and guided the club to the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

He also led Al Hilal to victory in the King’s Cup, although the team missed out on the Roshn Saudi League title, which was won by Al Nassr.

Despite the defeat by NEOM being his first league loss with Al Hilal, the result has prompted the club’s new sporting leadership to consider whether the team is developing as expected. Hughes and his staff will now assess the technical evidence before deciding whether Inzaghi should continue or whether a change in the dugout is required.