Noureddine Zekri in line for Saudi Pro League return after Abha dismiss Damir Buric

Noureddine Zekri is being considered for a return to the Saudi Pro League after Abha became the third club to dismiss its manager during the current season.

Abha announced on Wednesday that Croatian coach Damir Buric had been sacked following a run of poor results since the start of the campaign. His compatriot Teo Perija has been appointed as interim manager.

Buric is the third head coach to lose his job in the Saudi Pro League this season. Zarko Lazetic was previously dismissed by Al-Taawoun, while Khaled Al-Atwi left Al-Fateh.

According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya, Abha’s board has placed Algerian coach Zekri on its shortlist for the position until the end of the current season. The club is also considering other candidates.

Zekri has extensive experience of managing in the Saudi Pro League, particularly in helping teams avoid relegation. He performed that role with Al-Okhdood and Al-Kholood, before most recently doing so with Al-Shabab last season.

That experience could be important to Abha, who are bottom of the Saudi Pro League table. The club have collected only two points from two draws and eight defeats, and are still waiting for their first victory of the season.

Abha were promoted to the current Saudi Pro League season after winning the First Division title last season under Buric. The club’s difficult start has now led to his departure and left the team searching for a manager capable of lifting them from 18th place.

The latest coaching change comes on 30 October 2026, with Abha’s position leaving the club facing an immediate battle to improve its results. Zekri’s record of working with teams threatened by relegation has made him one of the names under consideration as the club seeks a replacement for Buric.