Al-Ittihad end Ramon Planes’ contract after two years and nine months

Al-Ittihad have ended their contractual relationship with sporting consultant Ramon Planes after two years and nine months at the Saudi club.

The decision follows a final settlement between the club’s board and the Spanish football executive, according to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya. Planes has received his outstanding financial dues, bringing his contract with Al-Ittihad to a close.

Planes is expected to move to the Mexican league as his next destination after leaving the club.

He had initially joined Al-Ittihad as sporting director before being moved into a consultancy role in June. The change was part of a restructuring of the club’s sporting department, with his compatriot Frank Carbo appointed to take responsibility for the sporting director’s duties.

Planes’ executive powers had been frozen in the weeks before the new structure was formally approved. He was removed from the sporting director position at the beginning of June and transferred to the advisory role.

His association with Al-Ittihad began in January 2024, when he arrived from Spanish club Real Betis to become sporting director. He was responsible for the first team’s sporting matters before moving into a consultancy position during the final months of his time at the club.

Al-Ittihad experienced contrasting results across the two seasons in which Planes was involved in the sporting administration.

In the season before last, the team won both the Saudi league title and the King’s Cup. However, they finished fifth in the league the following campaign and were eliminated from the King’s Cup and the Saudi Super Cup in the semi-finals.

They also exited the AFC Champions League Elite at the quarter-final stage.

Planes, 58, has held senior administrative positions elsewhere in European football. His previous experience includes spells with Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Betis.