Al Shabab entered this Roshn Saudi League season with considerable optimism after showing promising signs under Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira during the final stretch of the previous campaign.
Despite losing Croatia legend Ivan Rakitic, the Riyadh club retained talented Saudi prospect Musab Al Juwayr on loan. They strengthened their roster by signing RSL star Abderrazak Hamdallah, experienced Europeans Wesley Hoedt and Giacomo Bonaventura, and exciting winger Daniel Podence. These additions created what appeared to be a competitive squad.
Al Shabab began impressively, securing seven wins and two draws in their opening 13 RSL matches. However, momentum halted when Pereira departed for the English Premier League in mid-December, leaving a significant void in the club’s on-field leadership.
The club rebounded by appointing former Turkey national team manager Fatih Terim, though adjustment took time. The team alternated between wins and losses for seven consecutive games, falling behind in the league standings. At the winter break, they were just two points off the top four, but by Matchweek 20, that gap had widened to 12 points.
Terim’s transformation of Al Shabab from inconsistent to potent has been remarkable. A key factor has been maximizing Hamdallah’s talents. The Moroccan striker missed the season’s beginning due to injury and had scored five goals in eight games before Pereira’s departure. After the mid-season break, he reemerged as one of the league’s most dangerous forwards, netting 14 goals in 14 games to reach 19 total, placing him joint-second in the golden boot race alongside Al Ahli’s Ivan Toney, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo’s 23.
Terim has also revitalized Argentine midfielder Cristian Guanca, who previously had a mixed tenure at Al Shabab with numerous loan spells. Under Terim’s guidance, Guanca found his best form, earning RSL Player of the Month honors for both February and March. Since February, he has contributed six goals and nine assists, establishing himself as one of the league’s most dangerous attacking threats.
With Hamdallah’s scoring prowess (just two goals shy of the all-time RSL record) and Guanca’s creativity, Al Shabab has developed a formidable attack. They’ve scored 34 goals in 14 matches under Terim (2.42 goals per game), compared to 18 goals in 13 matches under Pereira (1.38 goals per game). Only champions Al Hilal (40) have outscored Terim’s Al Shabab during this period.
This offensive explosion has propelled them to the verge of the top four. Terim deservedly received RSL Coach of the Month for March, while Al Shabab nearly swept the monthly awards with Guanca (player) and Al Juwayr (young player) also recognized.
“This award is not an individual achievement but rather the result of hard work and dedication as a club, striving together toward the same goal,” Terim shared on social media. “I congratulate everyone I have worked with Al Shabab, including my players and teammates. This is a gift to our fans and a sign of even better days ahead.”
Based on their performance over the past two months, those better days may have already arrived.
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