Al Ahli face crucial Marino Pusic decision as Al Nassr clash approaches

Al Ahli are facing growing uncertainty over the future of head coach Marino Pusic, with the club yet to decide whether to end his contract or continue with him in charge.

The issue must be resolved with the eagerly anticipated meeting with Al Nassr now only about 10 days away. The match is scheduled for 20 November 2026 in the Roshn Saudi League.

According to Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, the approaching fixture has increased the importance of the decision for Al Ahli’s management. Any change in the coaching staff would leave a new manager with limited time to assess the squad, introduce his methods and prepare for one of the team’s most significant matches of the coming weeks.

The uncertainty follows reports two days earlier that Italian coaches Thiago Motta and Antonio Conte had emerged as candidates to replace Pusic. Motta is understood to be leading the list of options, while Conte has reportedly demanded a substantial financial package before agreeing to take the job. German coach Ole Werner has also been mentioned among the possible candidates.

Al Ahli’s management must now determine whether to retain Pusic and give him further time to improve the team’s form, or make a technical change and complete negotiations with one of the alternatives before announcing the current coach’s departure.

The latest results have increased dissatisfaction among supporters and renewed questions about Pusic’s tactical decisions, including whether he is making the best use of the available players in line with the club’s ambitions to compete for trophies.

Al Ahli are sixth in the Saudi Professional League with 21 points from 11 matches. They also occupy sixth place in the AFC Champions League Elite with eight points from four games, adding to the importance of the next stage for both the coaching staff and the club’s leadership.

Should the club change managers before facing Al Nassr, the limited preparation period would present an immediate challenge to the incoming staff. They would have to prepare the team, settle on a starting line-up and address the demands of a meeting with a direct league rival in a short space of time.

Keeping Pusic, meanwhile, would require a clear statement from the management to provide the coach and players with the stability needed to focus on their forthcoming commitments without continued speculation over a change in the dugout.

Pusic took charge of Al Ahli last August on a contract running until June 2028. However, the team’s recent performances have placed his position under renewed scrutiny, leaving supporters waiting for the club’s decision.

The coming days are expected to determine whether Al Ahli continue with Pusic or appoint a new coach. Delaying the decision until after the Al Nassr match would preserve the current situation, while acting before it would give a replacement an early and demanding test.

The central task for the club’s management is to settle the issue in time to allow the team to prepare properly for its domestic and continental commitments.