Two difficult weeks have made Al-Ahli head coach Marino Pusic the most discussed name among the club's supporters on X, where a campaign asking the board to end his spell was still running on Monday, 9 November 2026. The club has not announced any official decision on his future.
Pusic took charge in August, succeeding Germany's Matthias Jaissle on a contract that runs until 2028. These are the moments behind the fans' anger:
- On Friday, 30 October, Al-Ahli lost 6-1 to Al-Shabab at SHG Arena in Riyadh in round 12 of the Roshn Saudi League. Goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi was sent off in the 22nd minute, and Firas Al-Buraikan scored the only goal for the visitors.
- At half-time in that game, with Al-Ahli 3-1 down, supporters in the stands chanted for the coach to leave.
- On Monday, 2 November, Al-Ahli drew 0-0 with Al-Sadd in Doha on matchday four of the AFC Champions League Elite, and the same chants were heard after the final whistle.
- Before the Al-Sadd game, Pusic's record at the club stood at 11 wins, one draw and five defeats from 17 matches.
- After the Al-Shabab defeat the team stayed on 21 league points, in sixth place.
Accounts of the board's thinking differ. Okaz newspaper, citing its own sources, said management was unhappy with results, and broadcaster Battal Al-Qous said on Al Arabiya that a decision to part ways had been taken, while journalist Walid Saeed said no official decision existed. At the time of writing the club had published no statement about its coaching staff.
Al-Ahli return after the international break at home to Al-Faisaly in the league on 20 November, then visit Qatar's Al-Shamal in the AFC Champions League Elite on 23 November.
Source: Sabq, Okaz, Kooora, GOAL, Erem News
