Spanish Strategist Juan Carlos Garrido Takes Charge of "Al Ittihad SC"

Seasoned coach Juan Carlos Garrido returns to the African sphere, leading "Al Ittihad SC" in Libya.

Renowned for his Spanish acumen, Juan Carlos Garrido has been announced as the new head coach of Libyan side "Al Ittihad SC", marking his return to African football. Garrido replaces Osama Al-Hamadi, who departed after merely four matches in the Libyan Premier League due to unsatisfactory performances. The Spaniard arrives in Tripoli following a brief engagement with Iranian giants "Persepolis", where his tenure was concluded after a 3-1 defeat to "Mes Rafsanjan" last month.

Garrido brings with him a wealth of experience to "Al Ittihad", having enjoyed a thriving coaching career across Africa and Europe. He previously steered Egypt's "Al Ahly" to victory in the 2014 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup and the Egyptian Super Cup.

A year later, he replicated his CAF Confederation Cup triumph with Morocco's "Raja Casablanca". His African journey also includes stints with Tunisia's "Étoile du Sahel", Morocco's "Wydad Casablanca", and Algeria's "USM Alger". Upon arriving in Tripoli, Garrido signed his contract and toured "Al Ittihad's" facilities, expressing enthusiasm for this new chapter in his career.

"I am thrilled to begin a new chapter at "Al Ittihad" and hope that together we can achieve great things at this club with its rich history in Libyan football," Garrido said. Club officials, including the chairman and football director, welcomed him warmly, emphasizing their confidence in his ability to turn the team's fortunes around. "Al Ittihad", one of Libya's most prominent clubs, hopes Garrido's expertise will bolster their domestic campaign and boost their competitiveness on the continental stage.

Garrido's résumé also includes coaching roles at "Villarreal" and "Real Betis" in Spain, as well as "Al Ain" in the UAE and "Al Ettifaq" in Saudi Arabia. Known for achieving success in challenging environments, Garrido's return to African football has generated excitement among "Al Ittihad" fans eager for a revival under his leadership.