 On 28 June 2019, Lucescu parted ways with PAOK after receiving an offer to manage Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.The club reportedly paid PAOK the manager's €2M release clause, while both Lucescu and PAOK chairman Ivan Savvidis agreed that the contract offer was too good to refuse.He brought the club to its third AFC Champions League-era title and first continental title in 17 years on 24 November 2019.