Al Ahli make sporting director change after post-match talks

Al Ahli have dismissed sporting director Rui Pedro Braz and appointed his assistant, Osama Hawsawi, after a lengthy meeting between the club’s players and executive management following their defeat by Al Hilal.

The Saudi club announced the change on Thursday, bringing an end to Braz’s time in the role and placing Hawsawi in charge of the sporting director’s position.

According to Saudi Pro League broadcaster Thmanyah, the decision followed discussions involving Al Ahli’s players and the club’s executive administration. The meeting took place after Al Ahli suffered a 3-0 defeat by traditional rivals Al Hilal in the Saudi Clasico.

The match was played at Kingdom Arena on Tuesday in the third round of the Roshn Saudi League. Al Ahli, who are also known by the nickname “Al-Raqi”, were beaten by three goals without reply.

Thmanyah reporter Mohammed Al-Hashem said: “There was a lengthy meeting of Al Ahli players with the administration after the match against Al Hilal, after which sporting director Rui Pedro was dismissed.”

The broadcaster’s report linked the players’ meeting directly to the decision to remove Braz, who had been responsible for the sporting director’s duties at Al Ahli since October.

Braz joined the Saudi club after previously holding the same position at Benfica. His spell with the Portuguese club lasted from 2021 to 2025, before he moved to Al Ahli.

The club has now turned to Hawsawi, who had been working as Braz’s assistant, to replace him. No further details about the meeting or the reasons raised by the players were included in the report.

The dismissal comes immediately after Al Ahli’s heavy loss to Al Hilal in one of the early key fixtures of the Roshn Saudi League campaign. The result at Kingdom Arena formed the backdrop to the discussions between the squad and the club’s executive management before Braz’s departure was announced.

Al Ahli’s decision means the club have made a change in a senior football operations role only a short time after Braz’s appointment. His exit also brings to a close his tenure in Saudi Arabia following his previous experience in the same position at Benfica.

Hawsawi will take over from Braz as Al Ahli’s sporting director, with the club’s announcement confirming the change on Thursday.