Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr has appointed Portuguese veteran Jorge Jesus as head coach on a one-year contract, the club announced late Monday. The 70-year-old succeeds Italian manager Stefano Pioli, who departed in June, and will take charge immediately for the 2025-26 campaign. Jesus returns to Riyadh barely two months after being dismissed by local rivals Al Hilal, where he won the 2024 domestic treble and steered the team to this season’s Asian Champions League semi-finals before a May exit. His résumé also includes league titles with Benfica and Flamengo’s 2019 Copa Libertadores triumph. The coach said Cristiano Ronaldo personally encouraged him to accept the job, stating he "could not refuse the challenge" from his compatriot. Ronaldo, who recently extended his contract with Al Nassr to 2027, has yet to win a trophy with the nine-time Saudi champions and finished last season third in the league. Speaking to reporters en route to Riyadh, Jesus acknowledged turning down an approach from the Brazilian Football Confederation last year and called that decision a mistake. He now targets ending Al Nassr’s six-year title drought and securing the club’s first Asian crown alongside Ronaldo and fellow Portugal international Otávio.