Marcelino agreement claim fuels uncertainty over Al-Ahli’s next manager

Spanish coach Marcelino has become the focus of a media dispute over who will take charge of Al-Ahli Saudi next season, after conflicting reports emerged about whether he has agreed to replace Matthias Jaissle.

The former Villarreal manager was named among the candidates to lead the Saudi club following reports that Jaissle had resigned from his position on Thursday.

Jaissle is reported to have stepped down in order to become manager of Newcastle United next season, succeeding Eddie Howe. The German coach’s expected departure has prompted leading journalists who cover the international transfer market to investigate the possible candidates for the Al-Ahli job.

French journalist Santi Aouna was the latest to provide an update. On Saturday morning, he reported that Marcelino was close to taking charge of Al-Ahli for the coming campaign and had already accepted an offer made to him by the club.

The report was then challenged indirectly by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano. In a post on his personal account on X, Romano said Marcelino and Xavi Hernandez were not close to becoming Al-Ahli’s manager.

Aouna subsequently published another post, this time in Arabic, insisting that Marcelino had agreed to coach Al-Ahli on a two-year contract. He added that the remaining disagreement concerned the composition of the Spaniard’s coaching staff.

The contrasting claims have left Al-Ahli supporters waiting for clarity over the club’s next managerial appointment. The issue is becoming increasingly urgent because the team is due to begin its official season in less than two weeks.

Al-Ahli will start their campaign on 13 August, when they face Al-Diriyah in the opening round of the Roshn Saudi League.

Marcelino, whose previous managerial role was with Villarreal, is therefore at the centre of growing attention as the club attempts to resolve the uncertainty surrounding its dugout. However, while Aouna has presented the prospect of a two-year agreement as an advanced development, Romano’s intervention has cast doubt on whether negotiations have reached that stage.

The situation is also being closely watched because of the reported change at Newcastle United. Jaissle’s alleged resignation has linked him with the Premier League club as a replacement for Howe, while Al-Ahli now appears to be considering several possible successors, including Marcelino and Xavi Hernandez.

For the moment, the disagreement between the reports remains unresolved. Al-Ahli’s supporters will hope the club confirms its decision soon, with the start of the new season rapidly approaching.