Santos confirms Muharraq departure after trophy-laden spell

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Portuguese coach Fernando Manuel de Jesus Santos has confirmed he will leave Muharraq following the expiry of his contract, ending a highly successful 16-month spell with the Bahraini giants.

The 53-year-old announced his departure yesterday via an emotional message on Instagram, describing his time at the club as “a very special chapter” in his career and thanking players, staff, management, and supporters for their trust and support.

Santos departs after overseeing one of the most successful modern periods in Muharraq’s recent history, having arrived in January 2025 to replace Bahraini coach Mohammed Al Shamlan, who later took charge of Al Najma.

During his tenure, Santos led Muharraq to sustained domestic dominance across two seasons. In his first campaign, he guided the club to the Nasser bin Hamad Premier League title, which was clinched with four games to spare. In his second season, he ended Muharraq’s long wait for the King’s Cup, delivering their 20th triumph in the competition, before retaining the league title and extending the club’s national title tally to 35.

In his farewell message, Santos reflected on the challenges faced during his time in Bahrain, crediting the unity of the squad and the support of fans for the team’s success.

“We built more than a team. We built a family,” he wrote, adding that he leaves the Kingdom with “a profound sense of accomplishment” and hopes to return in the future.

Before joining Muharraq, Santos had already enjoyed success in Bahrain with Al Ahli, where he led the club to the 2023–24 King’s Cup title.

His departure closes one of the most successful coaching spells in recent Bahraini football history, with “The Red Wolves” set to begin the search for a successor ahead of the new season.