The story of João Cancelo, the former Saudi Arabian footballer and current manager of Al-Hilal, is one of controversy and intrigue. Cancelo's career has been marked by both success and failure, and his tenure as manager of Al-Hilal has been no exception.
Cancelo was born in Saudi Arabia in 1985 and spent most of his professional career in Europe, where he played for clubs such as Manchester United and Real Madrid. He made his debut for Real Madrid in 2006 and went on to play for several top teams before returning to England with Manchester City in 2017.
However, Cancelo's time in English football did not go well. In his first season with Manchester City, Cancelo suffered from a knee injury that required surgery, which ultimately ended his career. He returned to Spain after his recovery and then moved to Italy, where he managed Serie A side Juventus in 2018.
Unfortunately, Cancelo's time in Italy did not go as planned. His performances were often disappointing, and he struggled to make an impact on the team. Despite this, he remained a popular figure among fans and teammates, and he continued to manage various clubs throughout his career.
In 2019, Cancelo returned to Saudi Arabia to take over at Al-Hilal, a club that had struggled under previous managers. He brought with him a wealth of experience and knowledge, but it was clear that he needed to make some changes if he wanted to turn things around.
On January 24th, Cancelo was named manager of Al-Hilal, replacing the departing Zinedine Zidane. The move came as a surprise to many, as Zidane had previously served as manager of the club before being replaced by Ante Resende in 2019.
Cancelo's arrival was met with mixed reactions from fans and players alike. Some were excited about the prospect of seeing Cancelo lead the team back into the Premier League, while others were disappointed that they would be without their previous manager. However, he proved to be a talented manager who could bring a fresh perspective to the team.
Under Cancelo's leadership, Al-Hilal quickly rose to prominence, winning promotion to the Premier League and making history by becoming the first team from Saudi Arabia to win the league title since the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The team also won the UEFA Champions League in 2020, defeating Real Madrid in the final.
Despite the success of his tenure at Al-Hilal, Cancelo faced criticism for his handling of the club's finances. He overspent money on personnel and equipment, leading to significant financial difficulties for the club. This led to protests and strikes among the players, who felt that they were being paid too little and that their hard work was not being recognized.
Overall, João Cancelo's time as manager of Al-Hilal was marked by controversy and controversy. While he may have achieved some success during his time in charge, there is still much work to be done to improve the club's performance and reputation. As he moves on to new challenges, it remains to be seen whether he will continue to lead Al-Hilal to success or if he will face another period of uncertainty.