“Al-Ittihad announces the termination of its contractual relationship with the first team’s head coach Mr Laurent Blanc and his coaching staff,” the club said on X.

Al-Ittihad added that they were also looking for “new technical staff that matches the club’s ambitions”.

Blanc took charge of Al-Ittihad in July last year and led the team to a domestic double, winning both the league title and the King’s Cup.

However, the team began the new season by exiting the Saudi Super Cup in the semi-finals following a loss to Al-Nassr, before suffering a second defeat to the Riyadh-based side in the league on Friday. They are third in the standings, three points behind Al-Nassr.