The announcement of Brendan Rodgers’ arrival at Al Qadsiah captured the intent behind the club’s decision. Their official communication introduced him as a renowned European coach, a signal of ambition echoed across global platforms.
The announcement of Brendan Rodgers’ arrival at Al Qadsiah captured the intent behind the club’s decision. Their official communication introduced him as a renowned European coach, a signal of ambition echoed across global platforms.
The 2025-26 Roshn Saudi League season still has plenty remaining, but results forced a rethink. Sitting fifth and trailing the leaders by ten points following just one victory in four matches, the board concluded that a change of direction was required. Michel, who had taken Al Qadsiah up from the second tier and secured an impressive return campaign, made way for the former Liverpool, Celtic, and Leicester City boss.
Michel’s contribution cannot be ignored. He secured promotion from the 2023-24 Saudi First Division League and then oversaw a top-four finish and a King’s Cup final. His first season back among the elite featured the most solid defensive record in the division. However, faltering form this term pushed the hierarchy toward a new vision focused on competing at the league’s summit.
This appointment pairs Rodgers with James Bisgrove, now CEO at Al Qadsiah and formerly at Rangers. Despite their histories with Celtic and Rangers, Bisgrove expressed certainty in Rodgers’ ability to elevate the club, calling his hiring a milestone that reflects a plan to cement Al Qadsiah among Asia’s major contenders.
Rodgers arrives with a résumé shaped at multiple levels. His early rise came with Swansea City, where he guided the club from the English Championship to the Premier League at 37 years old and crafted an identity based on forward-thinking football. Praise came from major figures such as Thierry Henry and Arsène Wenger, who pointed to Swansea’s fearless, possession-oriented approach.
His tenure at Liverpool underlined those ideas. In the 2013-14 Premier League season, his side finished second, becoming only the second team in the competition’s history to surpass 100 goals. Though the title eluded them, that campaign defined his aggressive, inventive philosophy often labelled “Rodgers Ball”.
Success reached its peak in Glasgow. Rodgers delivered four league championships with Celtic, including two domestic trebles between 2016 and 2018. His second spell concluded with back-to-back league triumphs in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Bisgrove, who observed Rodgers closely during his time with Rangers, saw firsthand how those methods transformed Celtic’s fortunes.
It is that body of work—which blends tactical clarity, squad development, and a history of winning—that Al Qadsiah has placed at the core of their long-term project.
Despite Michel’s achievements, many believed caution hindered the team’s offensive possibilities. Al Qadsiah possesses dangerous options in attack, including forwards Mateo Retegui and Julián Quiñones, while Musab Al Juwayr, crowned Young Player of the Year, offers creativity between the lines.
The numbers underline the concern. Last season, their tally of 53 goals ranked lowest among the top six and lagged 26 behind title winners Al Ittihad. This campaign, their scoring remains modest, with only Al Ahli producing fewer goals of the top six. Their average output sits at 1.8 goals per match, overshadowed by Al Nassr’s rate of over three and Al Hilal and Al Taawoun’s average of 2.7.
This context explains the leadership’s choice. Rodgers’ mandate is to expand Al Qadsiah’s attacking outlook without compromising structure. Introducing his ideology with the season underway poses challenges, but the club believes his experience accelerates adaptation rather than slows it.
With league action resuming on December 27 against Damac, the timeframe is tight. Still, Rodgers’ presence signals a commitment to shift from competing respectably to consistently battling the division’s traditional heavyweights.
In the club’s introduction video, his words set the tone: stepping onto the pitch means asserting control. Every space on the field must be claimed. That message forms the foundation of this new phase as 2026 approaches, with Al Qadsiah preparing for a renewed pursuit of the top.
