Ballon d’Or winner Pavel Nedved joins Al-Shabab as sporting director

Czech football legend Pavel Nedved has been appointed as the new Sporting Director of Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab, Soccernet.football reports.

The announcement was made through the club’s official social media channels, marking a significant acquisition for the Riyadh-based team.

Although the terms of Nedved’s agreement remain undisclosed, the appointment is a major milestone for Al-Shabab.

The 52-year-old assumes his new role more than two years after leaving Juventus, where he served as vice president before stepping down in November 2022 following the mass resignation of the club’s board amid the Plusvalenza scandal.

Nedved’s storied career is one of football’s most illustrious.

A midfield maestro, he joined Juventus in 2001 after a successful stint with Lazio, where he helped secure the last-ever UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999.

During his time at Juventus, he was instrumental in the team’s domestic and European success, including their run to the 2003 UEFA Champions League final.

That same year, he achieved personal glory, winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or, becoming the second Czech player to do so and the first since the breakup of Czechoslovakia.

Regarded as one of the greatest Czech footballers in history, Nedved retired in 2009, leaving behind a legacy that includes 501 club appearances and 110 goals.

He also earned 91 caps for the Czech Republic, scoring 18 goals. His honours include four Czech Footballer of the Year awards and six Czech Golden Balls.

Post-retirement, Nedved transitioned to football administration, joining Juventus’ board of directors in 2015.

However, his tenure ended in controversy when Juventus was implicated in financial misconduct, resulting in an eight-month suspension from holding office in Italian football.