Former Celtic boss hits the summit after dramatic late victory.
Former Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers put down a major marker in the Saudi Pro League title race after his Al Qadsiah side edged closer to history with a dramatic 1-0 win over Al-Taawoun on Tuesday night.
Rodgers, 53, won four Scottish Premiership titles across two spells at Celtic, but resigned last October following a fallout with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond. He was appointed at the Prince Saud Bin Jalawi Stadium just two months later, where he went unbeaten in his first 17 games in charge of the club.
Taking last season’s strong form into the new Saudi league campaign, Al Qadsiah have been transformed from mid-table also-rans into serious title contenders over the last 10 months as they seek to wrestle the league crown from current holders Ange Postecoglou’s Al-Nassr, and seal a first league title in their 58-year history.
Starting the new campaign in explosive fashion, hopes of an unlikely title win were given a further boost on Monday night by £52million summer signing Tijjani Reijnders. The former Manchester City midfielder bagged a dramatic 96th-minute winner to help the visitors open up a one-point lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League table. His sixth goal in his first 10 games for his new club, the Netherlands international has so far proven to be a terrific signing for Rodgers’ side.
At the opposite end of the table, the late loss meant Al-Taawoun, who brought Rangers loanee Nedim Bajrami on as a 79th-minute substitute, are now deep in the relegation mire after failing to win any of their opening 10 league games, drawing four and losing six. A long-standing fixture in the top flight, Al-Taawoun finished sixth last season and are in their 16th consecutive campaign in the top flight. However, now three points adrift of safety, Jehad Al-Hussien is facing an unexpected battle to keep his side in the division.
Meanwhile, Scotland international Jack Hendry and his side Al-Ettifaq suffered their first defeat in six games, losing 4-1 at home to Al-Ittihad. The defeat leaves them in eighth with 15 points from 10 matches. Already trailing 10 points behind Rodgers’ side, they look unlikely to mount a title challenge this season.
Rodgers’ side’s excellent form on the pitch coincides with a major developments off it, as the club look forward to moving into their brand-new, fully air-conditioned, 47,000-seater Aramco Stadium by the end of the year. The stadium will be one of the key venues for the 2034 World Cup in the country, Rodgers said: “I think when you drive up to the stadium and you see the vastness of actually how big it is, and then coming off the coach you walk in through the reception area and it's really a spectacular stadium. A stadium of this scale can have a huge impact, and to have it here and be our home fills you with great pride.”
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