Marino Pusic: Al Ahli turn to Arne Slot pupil and Barcelona conqueror for a new chapter

Al Ahli have appointed Dutch coach Marino Pusic after the departure of Matthias Jaissle, placing their hopes in a manager whose career has been shaped by attacking football, an aggressive pressing game and a clearly defined tactical philosophy.

The decision is being viewed as more than a short-term response to Jaissle’s exit. For Al Ahli, Pusic’s arrival represents a significant choice at a difficult point in the club’s history, with the Saudi side trusting a coach whose reputation has been built through a range of European experiences.

Pusic may not carry the same international profile as some of the game’s most prominent managers, but his career has provided evidence of a coach with firm ideas and a clear footballing identity. Those qualities have helped him earn the opportunity to take charge of Al Ahli, known as “Al Raqi”, during one of the most demanding periods facing the club.

The Dutchman’s background also includes a notable European achievement. He led Shakhtar Donetsk to victory over Barcelona in the Champions League, a result that underlined his ability to prepare a team for a major test and compete successfully against one of the continent’s best-known clubs.

That success forms an important part of the story behind Al Ahli’s decision. Pusic is not arriving simply because the club needed a replacement after Jaissle. He has been chosen because his footballing approach matches the kind of direction the club’s management wants to pursue.

His methods are associated with proactive play rather than a cautious approach. The emphasis on attacking football and high pressing points to a team expected to take the initiative, seek control through intensity and attempt to impose its style on matches.

Pusic is also described as a pupil of Arne Slot, whose influence adds another dimension to the Dutch coach’s profile. That connection places him within a coaching school recognised for structured football, strong organisation and an insistence on playing with purpose.

However, the challenge at Al Ahli will be to turn those ideas into consistent performances in a demanding environment. The club’s decision to appoint Pusic reflects a belief that his varied European experience can provide the tactical clarity and leadership required at this stage.

The appointment therefore begins a fresh phase for Al Ahli. While Pusic’s name may not have the media appeal of several more established managers, the club’s choice has been based on the substance of his coaching career: a recognisable style, varied experience and the distinction of guiding Shakhtar Donetsk to a Champions League win against Barcelona.

For Al Ahli, the task now is to see whether the coach who made his name through attacking principles, high pressure and a major European victory can establish that identity with “Al Raqi”.