Al Ahli Saudi turn to Marino Pusic in surprise move after Matthias Jaissle exit

Al Ahli Saudi have appointed Marino Pusic as their new first-team manager in a surprise move following the departure of Matthias Jaissle.

The Saudi club officially confirmed the appointment of the Dutchman, bringing an unexpected end to the search for a successor to Jaissle. Pusic will take charge after the German left his position to become manager of English club Newcastle United.

The change in the dugout follows a breakdown in discussions between Jaissle and Al Ahli Saudi over a contract extension. Jaissle ultimately decided to resign after the two parties failed to reach an agreement on renewing his deal.

That opened the way for Al Ahli Saudi to seek a new manager, with the club now opting for Pusic to lead the first team.

The appointment represents a significant change in direction for Al Ahli Saudi, who had been coached by Jaissle before his recent move to Newcastle United. The club’s announcement confirms that Pusic is the man chosen to take over the role, although no further details about the terms of his appointment were provided.

Pusic arrives after the departure of a manager who left not because of a sporting result cited by the club, but because an agreement on extending his contract could not be reached. Jaissle’s resignation brought his time in charge to an end and left Al Ahli Saudi needing to make a swift decision over his replacement.

Rather than retaining the previous arrangement or delaying the decision, the club have completed a deal for Pusic and handed him responsibility for the senior side. His appointment is therefore the central development in Al Ahli Saudi’s managerial changes.

The move also links the club’s next chapter directly to the departure of Jaissle. While Jaissle has taken up the opportunity to manage Newcastle United, Al Ahli Saudi have selected Pusic as the coach who will lead the team following that transition.

The club described the appointment as the conclusion of its search for a new manager, formally confirming Pusic’s arrival after the uncertainty created by Jaissle’s resignation. The Dutchman will now succeed Jaissle in the Al Ahli Saudi dugout.

Jaissle’s exit came after negotiations over a new contract failed to produce an agreement. With the German departing for Newcastle United, Al Ahli Saudi moved to finalise their replacement and have now announced Pusic as the new head coach of the first team.