Postecoglou lands Al-Nassr head coach role to manage Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia

Ange Postecoglou is back in management after Al-Nassr confirmed his appointment as head coach on a two-year contract, placing the Australian in charge of Cristiano Ronaldo at the Saudi Pro League club.

Postecoglou, 60, had been without a job since Nottingham Forest dismissed him in October after just 40 days and eight games — a run that produced no wins, six defeats and a supporter revolt at the City Ground. His Saudi appointment ends an absence from the dugout that he spent working as a pundit for ITV at the World Cup.

“A new chapter. Mr Ange Postecoglou appointed as head coach of the Al-Nassr first team. The contract spans two seasons,” the club said in a statement. “We wish him and his staff every success in their journey.”

The spell at Forest came after a turbulent final season at Tottenham Hotspur, where Postecoglou had guided the club to the Europa League title in 2025 only to be sacked that summer when Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League.

Al-Nassr won the Saudi Pro League title on the final day of the season in May under Jorge Jesus, who stepped down after delivering the championship. Postecoglou inherits a squad that includes Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman and Joao Felix.

His predecessor Jesus was reported to be earning around £10.5 million per year, suggesting Postecoglou will be on a comparable package — a figure that reportedly priced him out of the Scotland vacancy that emerged after Steve Clarke resigned following Scotland’s World Cup group-stage exit, as well as a reported approach from Kazakhstan.

Postecoglou will also renew a rivalry with fellow former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, who left Parkhead for Al-Qadsiah last year and will be competing against Al-Nassr for the Saudi title next season.