Al Amri: Double title winner returns to Al Ittihad with no time for sentimentality

Abdulelah Al Amri is Al Nassr through-and-through having spent all but two years of his professional career at the Riyadh club.

But coming up against Saturday night’s opponent, fierce rivals Al Ittihad, must produce some mixed feelings for the 29-year-old. For it’s where Al Amri spent a season in Jeddah on loan during the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League.

And not just any season. It was during that campaign that Al Ittihad won the title with manager Laurent Blanc, running away with the league by eight points, with Al Amri playing a hugely significant role throughout.

That kind of success emotionally binds a player to a club. For as long as he plays, no doubt, a small part of Al Amri’s heart will be in Jeddah and that fabulous season when it all came together.

“Whatever I say, I cannot give Al Ittihad’s fans their due,” the Saudi Arabia international said in the aftermath. “They supported us in every match, inside and outside Jeddah…this title is for them before it is for us.”

Returning to his parent club, Al Nassr, last season, Al Amri joined a select group of players to have won back-to-back RSL trophies with different clubs.

“Winning the league title for the second consecutive season means a lot to me, without doubt,” he told local media amid the celebrations in May.

“This achievement is the result of the effort and hard work of an entire difficult season that was not decided until the final round.

“In every match this season, I felt inside that the league would belong to Al Nassr.”

And, in an ominous warning for Al Nassr’s rivals, Al Amri declared: “This will be the beginning of what is to come.”

Now he’s chasing a historic three-peat. That quest has begun brilliantly, both individually and collectively, as the RSL champions could hardly have started the season in better form under new manager Ange Postecoglou.

The title-holders are flying with Australian. Certainly, Al Amri has been integral to that, and not simply in marshalling the defence: the centre-back has scored twice in four games, matching his record from last term when, on the final day, Al Nassr sealed a first top-flight crown in seven years.

Already their form-line looks strong with four wins from four, 12 goals scored and only three conceded. Along with Al Hilal, they remain the only sides with a perfect record and travel to Jeddah with no intention of that changing this weekend.

While the two goals he’s scored will give personal satisfaction, professionally the three conceded will be equally as pleasing for Al Amri, whose job first and foremost is to keep out opposition attacks.

Having missed the opening game of the season, as Postecoglou preferred the partnership of Mohamed Simakan and Inigo Martinez, injury to the former opened the door for Al Amri. Testament to both his talent and tenacity, it’s one he has pushed wide open with his performances in the three matches since.

With Simakan returning for Al Nassr’s most recent fixture, it was illustrative that Al Amri retained his position ahead of Martinez in the starting line-up. Although, three into two doesn’t go, creating a weekly selection headache – a welcome one, admittedly - for Postecoglou.

But on current form, it would be hard to leave out Al Amri, especially in the Matchweek 5 clash that will matter that bit more to him.

Even though the manager in the dugout has changed, if there is one player who knows Al Ittihad it’s Al Amri. Returning to his former temporary home will be something he’ll for sure relish, but he’ll be all too aware also that Al Nassr will have their work cut out against a new-look Al Ittihad side.

Not only are there fresh additions on the pitch, the biggest change at the 2024-25 champions has been the manager.

This summer, in came Jens Wissing, the 38-year-old German tasked with laying the foundations for a new era at the Jeddah giants; like Saturday’s visitors, Al Ittihad are also undefeated this season, with two wins and two draws.

After suffering through a disappointing title defence last term, this campaign is about restoring pride. And, having already seen off one title challenger in Al Qadsiah - a remarkable victory, with 10 men in Al Khobar – Al Ittihad get a chance to prove their own credentials when Al Nassr come to town.

While Al Amri will cherish the chance to return, for 90 minutes at least, there will be no room for sentimentality.