Ole Werner declines Al-Ahli’s £9.5m-a-year offer as Saudi club’s manager search continues

Ole Werner has rejected the chance to become Al-Ahli’s next manager despite being offered about 11m euros (£9.5m) a year – three times the salary he received at RB Leipzig.

The German coach was approached by the Saudi club to replace his compatriot Matthias Jaissle, who resigned from his position last Thursday to take charge of English club Newcastle United.

Al-Ahli have yet to appoint a successor to Jaissle, and Werner is the latest candidate to turn down the opportunity to lead the team next season.

Reports earlier suggested that Al-Ahli had opened talks with Werner, who was previously in charge of RB Leipzig, over becoming the club’s new head coach.

However, Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, citing German publication Bild, reported that Werner had rejected the offer despite the financial terms put forward by Al-Ahli.

The proposed salary was almost three times what Werner earned at RB Leipzig, where he was reportedly paid about 3.7m euros a year. Despite that increase, the 43-year-old has decided to take a break from management.

Werner’s decision comes after the unexpected way he left RB Leipzig. He was dismissed while on a summer holiday in Malaysia and, according to the report, was unaware that the club had decided to remove him from his post.

He is the latest in a series of managers Al-Ahli have been unable to appoint ahead of the new season. Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez and fellow Spaniard Marcelino have also been among the coaches linked with the vacancy.

Al-Ahli’s management are attempting to resolve the situation as quickly as possible so that the incoming manager can oversee the final stages of the team’s preparations.

The club’s new campaign is due to begin officially on 13 August, when they face Al-Diriyah in the opening round of the Saudi Pro League.

The timing of the managerial appointment is particularly important because Al-Ahli are set to compete in several domestic and continental competitions during the season.

Al-Ahli are seeking to win the Saudi league title for the first time since 2016. They are also aiming to retain the AFC Champions League Elite title, having won the competition in each of the past two seasons.

Werner’s refusal leaves the Saudi club still searching for a replacement for Jaissle, with the start of the campaign approaching and preparations already under way.