Failure not an option as Ange Postecoglou gears up for biggest challenge yet alongside Ronaldo

When Ange Postecoglou left Nottingham Forest in October, few would have predicted his next port of call would be Riyadh, but taking over Al-Nassr is likely to be one of the biggest challenges of his varied career. This is a coach who always wins something in his second season but there is little chance of a second season if there is no trophy in the first. The fact that he is the club’s 12th coach in the 2020s alone is a stark reminder that failure is not an option, and the financial issues that have meant a quiet summer in the transfer market won’t be accepted as an excuse.

In May, Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the Saudi Pro League title and soon after Al-Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus, the septuagenarian who has won something in the first season of his last two Saudi spells, left to take the Portugal job. Taking over the Saudi Arabian champions and their star-studded squad may seem like a fairly comfortable gig but this will be anything but.

Expectations are higher than anywhere Postecoglou has been – that’s just the way it is for one of Saudi Arabia’s big four. Last season’s title was the first since 2019 and more of the same is demanded. But there is also a need for a first Asian Champions League title, a competition in which Postecoglou made little impact with Brisbane Roar and Yokohama F.Marinos. Even with the likes of Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and João Félix, a continental crown has remained elusive. Win one and Postecoglou will write his name into Al-Nassr’s history – as well as that of Asia, as the first coach to win the premier club and country titles – but it can’t come at the cost of finishing near the bottom of the league table, as happened at Tottenham. Challenging on two fronts is expected.

At Al-Nassr, three games without a win equals unrest. It is a club with plenty of former players ready to give opinions as often as television shows and websites want. Four games and it moves to another level. As a result, most coaches don’t worry too much about playing style and philosophy – winning is of utmost importance. There is little patience for a slow start while players get to grips with a new system, a new style or a new coach. There will be no waiting for a second season payoff. Al-Hilal won the King’s Cup last season, finished second in the league and were unbeaten. Many fans were still unhappy with Simone Inzaghi.

And then there is Ronaldo. At 41, he is still the face of the league. Postecoglou has never managed a player even approaching such levels of fame and influence. Ronaldo doesn’t press or move around much these days, though he can still finish. The more than $6m-a-week man can be rested, especially in Asian Champions League group games, and it has been reported that he has been given extra time off after the World Cup and could miss Thursday’s opener against the newly-promoted Diriyah. He will, however, still expect to play the majority of matches – as does the league, club, media and fans. All are desperate for Ronaldo to reach the 1,000-goal milestone this season. He is just 24 short. It could become quite a sideshow.

There is not a huge amount of cover for the forward as Al-Nassr have not strengthened their squad since lifting the trophy, making more headlines for financial issues than transfer targets. At one point, it was reported that the club had debts of 800m Saudi Riyals, around A$300m, and were facing a transfer ban. The problem was cleared up by the Saudi Public Investment Fund – the owners of the club – along with a restructuring and commercial deals just days before kick-off. The departing Croatian Marcelo Brozović, a steady presence in midfield for three seasons, was replaced by Portugal’s Samú Costa last weekend, but if Postecoglou wants more, sales may need to be made. Meanwhile Al-Hilal, for example, spent a reported $130m on Crysencio Summerville.

Even if it does end quickly and in tears, the received wisdom in coaching circles is that losing your job in Saudi Arabia has little impact on employability back in Europe. Nuno Espírito Santo left Al-Ittihad after 16 months but smoothly returned to the Premier League and Nottingham Forest. In Postecoglou’s case, however, a third consecutive dismissal in a relatively short time won’t look good on his resume.

At least Postecoglou will have a fellow Australian to chat to, with former Yokohama assistant and Newcastle Jets coach Arthur Papas now in charge of Al-Ettifaq. Al-Ettifaq have twice finished sixth and seventh in the past four seasons and it is clear what is regarded as success there – to break into the top five. That is far from easy given the resources of those that usually finish above them. Whether it is harder than Postecoglou’s challenge in the capital remains to be seen.

Reporting from The Guardian contributed to this story.