Ricardo Chéu says goodbye to Al-Jabalain
9 Jun 2026
Ricardo Chéu’s spell at Al-Jabalain has come to an end, closing a season that will be remembered by both the Saudi club and the Portuguese coach.
Appointed at the start of the 2025/26 season, Chéu took charge with the mission of securing survival in the Saudi First Division League, but ultimately led the team far beyond initial expectations. Over the course of the season, he recorded 14 wins, seven draws and seven defeats in 28 league matches, guiding Al-Jabalain into the fight for promotion to Saudi Arabia’s top flight.
In a demanding and highly competitive environment marked by several challenges, Al-Jabalain grew steadily from match to match, establishing itself among the contenders for the top positions. The campaign culminated in qualification for the promotion play-offs, an achievement few had anticipated at the start of the season. The team finished the regular season in sixth place, securing a spot in the decisive phase for access to the Saudi Pro League.
In his farewell message, Ricardo Chéu highlighted the overcoming of initial expectations: “My time at Al-Jabalain has come to an end. We did what few believed was possible. The objective was to fight for survival, and game by game we stayed together and, despite many difficulties, reached the promotion play-offs. It was a year of learning, adaptation to a new context, and hard work. Thank you,” said the Portuguese coach.
The experience in Saudi football represents another international chapter in Ricardo Chéu’s career, once again demonstrating his ability to improve teams and exceed objectives. Although his spell at Al-Jabalain is now over, the results achieved leave a positive mark on the club and further enhance the reputation of the Portuguese coach, who leaves Saudi Arabia after turning a survival-bound side into promotion contenders.
Appointed at the start of the 2025/26 season, Chéu took charge with the mission of securing survival in the Saudi First Division League, but ultimately led the team far beyond initial expectations. Over the course of the season, he recorded 14 wins, seven draws and seven defeats in 28 league matches, guiding Al-Jabalain into the fight for promotion to Saudi Arabia’s top flight.
In a demanding and highly competitive environment marked by several challenges, Al-Jabalain grew steadily from match to match, establishing itself among the contenders for the top positions. The campaign culminated in qualification for the promotion play-offs, an achievement few had anticipated at the start of the season. The team finished the regular season in sixth place, securing a spot in the decisive phase for access to the Saudi Pro League.
In his farewell message, Ricardo Chéu highlighted the overcoming of initial expectations: “My time at Al-Jabalain has come to an end. We did what few believed was possible. The objective was to fight for survival, and game by game we stayed together and, despite many difficulties, reached the promotion play-offs. It was a year of learning, adaptation to a new context, and hard work. Thank you,” said the Portuguese coach.
The experience in Saudi football represents another international chapter in Ricardo Chéu’s career, once again demonstrating his ability to improve teams and exceed objectives. Although his spell at Al-Jabalain is now over, the results achieved leave a positive mark on the club and further enhance the reputation of the Portuguese coach, who leaves Saudi Arabia after turning a survival-bound side into promotion contenders.
