Al Ahli onboards Marino Pusic as new head coach

Al Ahli appoints new head coach: Marino Pusic, a former manager of Shakhtar Donetsk, has been confirmed as Al Ahli’s next head coach, replacing Matthias Jaissle.

The club said on Thursday that the 54-year-old left UAE Pro League team Al Jazira and signed a deal with the Roshn Saudi League club through 2028.

Having led Shakhtar Donetsk to the Ukrainian Premier League championship in 2024, Pusic comes with a track record of accomplishment. Prior to that, he was assistant coach of Feyenoord during the team’s 2022–2023 Dutch league-winning season and assisted FC Twente in their 2019 promotion to the Eredivisie.

He takes over for Jaissle, who took up as manager of Newcastle United in the English Premier League after leading Al Ahli to consecutive AFC Champions League Elite crowns.

Al Ahli’s 2026–27 Roshn Saudi League campaign will start on the road against recently promoted Diriyah Club on August 13, marking Pusic’s first competitive game as manager.