Captain on the Brink: Al-Ahli Jeddah's Relegation Captain Eyes Roshen Return
25 November 2025
Coaching candidates circle Al-Ahli as relegation dread grows
Al-Ahli Jeddah, the club that rose to the Roshen Pro League, now appears to be sliding toward the relegation zone after nine rounds and just one point. The decision to part ways with coach Mario Silva has kickstarted a search for a new boss who can steady the ship and lift spirits in a difficult spell.
Two frontrunners emerge: Hasi and Machín
Besnik Hasi, the Albanian coach currently in charge of Anderlecht, is among the leading contenders and has history with Al-Ahli that could help him hit the ground running. Spaniard Pablo Machín is also on the shortlist as the club looks for a spark. Hasi’s SaudiCV is a mixed bag: he previously coached Al-Raed and Al-Ahli, but his tenure at Al-Ahli ended with 25 matches featuring 6 wins, 10 draws, and 9 losses. The club’s dip culminated in relegation to the first division at the end of the 2021-22 season before a revival under Pitso Mosimane.
Hasi left Al-Ahli in March 2022 after a 1-0 defeat to Al-Ittihad, his third loss in a row at the time, which has colored perceptions of his earlier stint.
Machín represents another viable route, offering a European perspective that could help Al-Ahli adjust their approach and steadiness in crucial fixtures.
Current state: defensive and offensive struggles persist
The task ahead is daunting: Al-Ahli currently holds the league’s second-worst defense with 20 goals conceded and sits near the bottom in attack with just seven goals scored, marking it as one of the weaker outfits in the division along with Al-Shabab.
Despite the negative run, there have been flashes of improvement—narrow 1-0 losses to both Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad and moments of resilience against leaders Al-Hilal before a 4-2 setback. The team now faces a stern December schedule, including a tough clash with Al-Nassr, and a King Cup exit at the Round of 16 after a 1-0 defeat to Al-Khaleej.
Continental chapter ends
In Asia, Sharjah FC ended Al-Ahli’s historic continental run with a 1-0 victory on Monday, in the fifth matchweek of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League group stage. Al-Ahli sit second in West Asia Group with 10 points, while Sharjah climb to seven.
Past champions’ shade
Al-Ahli were champions of the last AFC Champions League edition, finishing with a long unbeaten run that included 12 wins and a single draw across 13 matches. They eliminated Al-Hilal in the semi-finals (3-1) before sweeping Kawasaki Frontale in the final, cementing their status as the defending continental kings for that era.
Forecasted scrutiny
With those historic highs now distant, the team under the German coach Matías Jaissle faces a critical stretch likely to invite renewed scrutiny and questions about performance levels as the season progresses.
Punchline 1: If Al-Ahli’s season were a coffee, it would be an espresso — strong, a little bitter, and leaving the boardroom buzzing at 6 a.m. for more drama.
Punchline 2: And if the defense keeps leaking goals, maybe they should install a GPS in the backline—great at finding exits, not so good at guiding the ball to the net.
