Al Ahli fans demand Marino Pusic’s dismissal before Al Nassr clash

Al Ahli supporters have launched a campaign on X calling for manager Marino Pusic to be sacked before the club’s eagerly anticipated Roshn Saudi League meeting with traditional rivals Al Nassr.

Al Ahli will host Al Nassr at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah on 20 November 2026, in a rearranged fixture from matchweek nine of the Roshn Saudi League.

Ten days before the match, supporters began using the hashtag “Pusic’s departure is our demand”, urging Al Ahli’s management to remove the Dutch coach as soon as possible.

Pusic has faced sustained criticism since taking charge at Alinma Stadium, with that pressure intensifying after Al Ahli’s 6-1 defeat by Al Shabab in matchweek 12 of the Roshn Saudi League.

The coach was appointed in August, replacing Matthias Jaissle, who left Al Ahli unexpectedly to take charge of Newcastle United.

Since arriving at the Jeddah club, Pusic has overseen 18 matches. Al Ahli have won 11 of those games, drawn twice and suffered five defeats.

Supporter Abdulrahman wrote on X: “I expect there is no Al Ahli fan anywhere in the world who would disagree with Pusic leaving. His presence until now is the biggest question mark.”

Abdulhamid Al-Omari criticised the club’s handling of the previous manager’s departure, writing: “After forcing Al Ahli’s former manager Jaissle out, which was the worst decision in the club’s history and led to his resignation, they signed the worst coach to manage Al Ahli, the winner of the two elite titles, Pusic.”

He added: “I ask you now: is there a worse manager than this coach after his results with Al Ahli? Is removing him the right decision? Who would you nominate as his replacement at Al Ahli?”

Another supporter, Basel, said the club needed a change for the benefit of both Al Ahli and Saudi football.

“For the sake of Al Ahli and Saudi football, the winner of the two elite titles deserves the best,” he wrote. “Keeping Pusic is nothing more than a waste of time and the destruction of what remains of the season.”

Waleed claimed opposition to the manager extended beyond the supporters.

“Al Ahli fans reject the manager, Al Ahli players reject the manager, all the programmes are surprised that the manager is still there, journalists are demanding his dismissal and newspapers are criticising his style,” he wrote.

He concluded: “Only Al Ahli’s management is satisfied with the manager’s misconduct and failure, while giving him full authority until now. Save Al Ahli from those who are tampering with the club.”