Al Okhdood Defiant In Relegation Battle As Signaled By Their Managerial Appointment of Noureddine Ben Zekri, A Renown Survival Specialist
Al Okhdood is not going down without a fight, and they’ve appointed Noureddine Ben Zekri as their new manager for the remainder of the 2023/24 season. Zekri has a reputation for helping Saudi Pro League sides avoid relegation.
The Algerian national replaces Martin Sevela, who has been in the Al Okhdood hot seat since November. Sevela started well, delivering three wins in his first five matches. However, the club has since gone on a dismal losing streak with six losses in the last seven games. Al Okhdood finds themselves in the relegation zone with 24 points, a point less than Abha (played one match more) and Al Riyadh (played the same number of games).
Ben Zekri will be taking charge of the fourth Saudi Pro League side. In the 2013/14 season, he steered Al Raed to ninth, three points above the relegation zone. In 2019, he stepped into the AL Fayha hot seat in the second half of the season and finished a point above the relegation zone. In the same year, he took Damac from the bottom of the table and led them to a 10th-place finish, recording a seven-match unbeaten run in the process.
Ben Zekri’s first match in charge will be against his former employers Damac, and Al Okhdood fans will hope he can deliver the same way he did for Damac.
