Josef Zinnbauer appointed Al-Hilal manager on two-year contract

Al-Hilal have appointed German coach Josef Zinnbauer as their new manager, with the former JS Kabylie boss signing a two-year contract with the Sudanese club.

Zinnbauer’s appointment gives Al-Hilal a new leader as they prepare to begin their campaign in the CAF Champions League. Their first assignment will be against Aigle Noir in the first preliminary round of the competition.

The 2025-26 season was Zinnbauer’s most recent managerial experience, when he was in charge of Algerian club JS Kabylie. During his time with the club, he oversaw 47 matches, recording 21 victories, 14 draws and 12 defeats.

That record means Zinnbauer won almost half of the matches he managed at JS Kabylie, with the club also avoiding defeat in a further 14 games. His spell in Algeria was the latest stage of a coaching career that has included senior appointments in three African countries.

Before taking charge of JS Kabylie, Zinnbauer managed Raja Club Athletic in Morocco and Orlando Pirates in South Africa. He enjoyed trophy success with both clubs, winning the Moroccan league title and the Moroccan Cup during his time with Raja.

He also guided Orlando Pirates to the South African Cup, adding another major domestic honour to his record in African football.

The German coach now takes charge of an Al-Hilal side that finished second in the Sudanese league last season. Al-Merrikh won the championship, leaving Al-Hilal to prepare for the new campaign from outside the top position.

His first priority will be the club’s Champions League tie against Aigle Noir. The opening-round meeting will represent Zinnbauer’s first competitive task since arriving at Al-Hilal and will begin his two-year spell in Sudan.

Al-Hilal’s decision to appoint a coach with previous experience of Raja Club Athletic, Orlando Pirates and JS Kabylie reflects the club’s move to place an experienced African football manager at the head of the team. Zinnbauer’s previous honours in Morocco and South Africa, together with his record of 47 matches at JS Kabylie, form the background to his arrival.

The German’s contract runs for two seasons, and his immediate challenge is to guide Al-Hilal through the opening stage of the CAF Champions League while seeking to improve on last season’s second-place finish in the Sudanese league.