Didier Deschamps remained open to Al-Ahli project as coaching talks faltered – report

Didier Deschamps was willing to consider taking charge of Al-Ahli Saudi FC, but negotiations with the Frenchman failed to progress because of the way strategic decisions are made within Saudi Arabian clubs, according to French reports.

The former France manager had emerged as one of the leading candidates to replace Matthias Jaissle after the German’s departure from Al-Ahli. However, a report by French broadcaster RMC said Deschamps had not rejected the possibility of working in the Roshn Saudi League.

Instead, the 57-year-old was reportedly receptive to the club’s sporting project and the ambitions attached to it. The prospect of managing Al-Ahli therefore remained open in principle, although the discussions did not develop as either side had hoped.

RMC reported that the main difficulty was not a lack of interest from Deschamps, but the structure through which important decisions are taken at Saudi Arabian clubs. Strategic matters are not decided by a single party, with several bodies involved in shaping the direction of a club.

That arrangement can make negotiations take longer, while plans or priorities may also change during the process. In Deschamps’ case, the involvement of multiple decision-makers complicated the discussions and ultimately prevented them from moving forward.

The report added that major transfer and appointment decisions do not rest solely with a club’s own administration. For a number of significant deals, the Public Investment Fund has the final say, a factor that made the talks with Deschamps more complex before they eventually ended.

Deschamps was consequently not appointed as the successor to Jaissle, despite being considered one of the strongest names linked with the Al-Ahli job. The club has since completed an agreement with Dutch coach Marino Pusic, who will lead the team for the next two seasons.

Pusic’s appointment brings an end to one of the most closely followed managerial searches of the summer transfer market. Before settling on the Dutchman, Al-Ahli had been linked with several high-profile candidates, including Deschamps, as it sought to determine the next stage of its sporting project.

The decision also leaves Deschamps without the Al-Ahli role after negotiations that, according to the French report, were affected by internal procedures rather than a clear refusal from the coach. For Al-Ahli, the process has concluded with Pusic taking charge, while the club’s wider ambitions in the Roshn Saudi League remain central to its plans.