Marino Pusic named Al Ahli head coach for 2026-27

Al Ahli Saudi FC, based in Jeddah, has confirmed Marino Pusic as its new head coach for the 2026–27 Roshn Saudi League season. The appointment was announced on 5–6 August 2026, with Pusic signing a contract that runs through 2028.

Pusic succeeds Matthias Jaissle, who left the club in summer 2026 after a highly successful spell in Jeddah. Jaissle guided Al Ahli to back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles before departing to take charge of Newcastle United.

The new coach faced his first competitive test quickly. Pusic oversaw Al Ahli's 2026–27 Saudi Pro League opener away to Diriyah Club on 13 August 2026, meaning he was already actively in post by mid-August as the new campaign got under way.

Why it matters

Al Ahli remain one of the most-followed clubs in the Kingdom, and their coaching changes draw wide attention from football fans across Riyadh, Jeddah and the wider Gulf. With Jaissle's continental success setting a high bar, Pusic inherits a squad expected to challenge at the top of the Roshn Saudi League, the country's premier professional competition.

The club has disclosed the contract duration up to 2028 but has not published details on the financial terms of the appointment. For supporters, attention now turns to how Pusic builds on the club's recent achievements over the course of the new season.

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