In light of Ronaldo’s recent transfer to Al Nassr F.C. in Saudi Arabia, there are other international athletes and coaches who are worth mentioning due to their impact in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia football leagues. The players listed below have undoubtedly been making a magnificent effect on the leagues they play in, just as some of these coaches have been able to transform their teams to reach new feats. These international footballers and coaches will also contribute significantly to the improvement of football in the region.
Xavi
The first one on the list had to be Spain’s Xavi who is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Xavi was a superstar at Barcelona and was part of the legendary squad that included Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, and Carles Puyol. With Barcelona, Xavi won eight La Liga (Spanish League) titles and four UEFA Champions League titles. After his retirement, he moved on to become a manager and he went straight to manage the Qatari sports club, Al Sadd in 2019. He stayed there from 2019 to 2021 before heading back to his home club Barcelona.
Rudi Garcia
Next, we have France’s Rudi Garcia who managed top European clubs like Ligue 1’s Lille, Marseille, and Lyon. Away from France, he coached at Seria A’s Roma, and on June 29, 2022, Garcia signed with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr. Yes, it is the same club that Cristiano Ronaldo just made a move to and Garcia couldn’t be more excited. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Garcia stated that “the only thing I want is for him to enjoy playing football again and smile.” Garcia’s experience will definitely transform Al Nassr as he shares with the team his vision and various styles of play.
Hervé Renard
Renard was undoubtedly the star manager of the Qatar World Cup where he overcame the current world champions, Argentina, in a thrilling 2-1 match for Saudi Arabia. His work with the Saudi Arabian National Team is undoubtedly one of the most exceptional experiences that we can think about within the football world. Renard took charge of the Saudi National Football Team in 2019 with a plan in mind. This plan dictated that the Saudi Arabian team is able to compete not just at a regional level, but at an international scale to show off their talents at the World Cup.
Éver Banega
Let’s then move to Argentina’s Éver Banega who currently plays for the Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab. Banega is a midfielder who used to play at La Lisa’s Sevilla from 2014 to 2016. He also played at La Lisa’s Valencia, Seria A’s Inter Milan, and Argentina’s Boca Juniors. He was included in the final squad for the 2018 Russia World Cup and made his debut in the competition in the group stage against Iceland. In that tournament, he assisted Lionel Messi’s opening goal in the final group match against Nigeria.
Luiz Gustavo
We’re back to Al Nassr F.C. as the club features several international players. Brazil’s Luiz Gustavo is a defensive midfielder who played for Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich in 2011. On the international level, Luiz Gustavo made his debut for Brazil in 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute in a friendly match against Germany. He scored four goals during this season with the Al Nassr and contributed with two assists. The Brazilian defensive midfielder is a great addition to the Saudi team due to his vast international experience.
Steven Nzonzi
France’s Steven Nzonzi is a defensive midfielder for Qatar Stars League club Al-Rayyan. He signed with the club in 2021 after playing at Sevilla, Roma, Rennes, and Turkish side Galatasaray. The Frenchman was part of France’s World Cup winners squad where in the final, he came on as a substitute for N’Golo Kantén after 55 minutes of a 4–2 win over Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Russia’s capital Moscow.
With the introduction of these players and coaches into the Qatari and Saudi football leagues, the level of football is unquestionably on the rise. We must admit that these signings are beneficial for Qatari and Saudi football because they elevate the game and allow these clubs to sign top international players when they are at the top of their game, despite the fact that some may argue that these coaches and players join these leagues because they are close to retiring.