Al Ahli weigh unexpected Rui Santos option after manager search hits trouble

Al Ahli are considering whether Rui Santos could remain in charge at the start of the new season after the Portuguese coach took temporary control of first-team training following Matthias Jaissle’s departure.

The Saudi club have yet to appoint a new head coach, despite efforts to agree a deal with a foreign manager before the campaign begins. Negotiations with several candidates have stalled in recent days, raising the possibility that Santos could be asked to continue in the role, at least for the opening phase of the season.

According to Al Riyadiya, Santos, who manages Al Ahli’s under-21 side, led the senior squad’s latest training session alongside Mohammed Musad. The players had returned to work after their holiday, which followed the conclusion of the club’s overseas training camp in Austria and Portugal.

Santos’ promotion is currently intended to be temporary. However, the limited time available before Al Ahli’s first competitive fixture could give him an unexpected opportunity to remain on the coaching staff and potentially take charge of the team when the new season starts.

The club’s hierarchy is trying to reach an agreement with a new foreign head coach, but the failure to complete negotiations with more than one candidate has left the managerial position unresolved. That uncertainty has increased the importance of the coming days, with the club needing either to finalise an appointment or decide whether to place its immediate trust in Santos.

Al Ahli begin their Roshn Saudi League campaign on 13 August against Al-Diriyah. The approaching fixture has added pressure to the search, as the club must settle its technical direction before the opening match.

A permanent appointment remains the preferred outcome, but Santos’ involvement with the first team means he is now a possible short-term solution. If negotiations do not produce a new manager soon, the coach could be given responsibility for guiding Al Ahli during the initial stage of the campaign.

For now, Santos has only been handed a caretaker role. His presence in first-team training, though, has placed him at the centre of a decision that appeared to concern only the search for an external appointment. With the season opener approaching, Al Ahli’s management must determine whether to conclude the process with a new coach or turn an interim arrangement into a surprise opening-day plan.