“The board of directors of Al Hilal Club Company have agreed with the Portuguese head coach of the first team Jorge Jesus to terminate the contractual relationship between them,” the club announced in a statement.

“The Board expressed its appreciation for the efforts made by the technical staff since last season.”

Jesus was in his second spell at the club having first worked with the Riyadh-based outfit from June 2018 to January 2019. He subsequently joined Brazilian side Flamengo, where he won the Copa Libertadores.

He returned to Al Hilal in July 2023 and lifted the Saudi Pro League title at the end of his first season, during which the club won a world record 34 consecutive matches and also claimed the King’s Cup.

However, Al Hilal missed out in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 title, losing to eventual winners Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the semi-finals.

Al Hilal’s defence of their league crown has faltered this season, with the club currently sitting in second position, six points behind Jeddah’s Al Ittihad with five matches remaining.

Former Al Hilal and Saudi Arabia winger Mohammed Al Shalhoub has been placed in charge on a temporary basis.

Al Hilal are due to represent Asia at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June and July, where they have been drawn to face Real Madrid, Mexico’s Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg from Austria.