English Premier League
Marino Pusic set to begin Al Ahli role in Jeddah ahead of new season
Marino Pusic is due to arrive in Jeddah on Thursday evening to begin work as Al Ahli’s new head coach, with the Saudi club’s opening Roshn Saudi League fixture only one week away.
Al Ahli announced in the early hours of Thursday that the Dutchman had agreed a two-season contract, running until 2028. Pusic replaces German manager Matthias Jaissle, who has left the Saudi club to take charge of Newcastle United.
According to Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah, Pusic will reach Jeddah later on Thursday and immediately begin preparations for the new campaign.
The 54-year-old faces a demanding start to his tenure, with little time to assess his squad or implement his methods before competitive football begins. Al Ahli’s first official match of the season is scheduled for 13 August, when they will face Al-Diriyah in the opening round of the Roshn Saudi League.
Pusic will also be expected to help Al Ahli challenge for the Saudi league title, which the club have not won since 2016. The team will additionally aim to retain the AFC Champions League Elite title after securing the trophy in each of the past two seasons.
The new manager inherits a side that has already completed seven friendly matches during its preparations for the campaign. Six of those games were played during the team’s previous training camp in Austria and Portugal under Jaissle.
Al Ahli recorded only one victory in those fixtures, beating Austrian club Saalfelden 8-0.
The Saudi side lost four of their other matches. They were defeated by Germany’s Holstein Kiel, Portuguese clubs Vitoria de Guimaraes and Portimonense, and Saudi opponents Al-Ettifaq.
Al Ahli also drew twice, recording positive results against Portuguese side Rio Ave and English club Fulham.
Pusic’s appointment marks the beginning of a new phase for the club after Jaissle’s departure. His first priority will be to make an immediate assessment of the squad and ensure the players are ready for the league opener against Al-Diriyah.
The short turnaround means the Dutch coach will have to combine tactical preparation with the need to build familiarity with his players. Al Ahli’s recent friendly results have produced just one win, alongside two draws and four defeats, leaving Pusic with limited preparation time before the pressure of competitive football begins.
