Al-Ahli Saudi’s search for a successor to Matthias Jaissle has returned to square one after reports linking the club with Xavi Hernandez and Marcelino Garcia Toral were dismissed.
Both Spanish managers had emerged as leading candidates to take charge of the Saudi Pro League side following Jaissle’s resignation. However, respected Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano said neither coach is currently close to accepting the position.
Romano wrote on X that reports suggesting Xavi or Marcelino were nearing an agreement to become Al-Ahli Saudi’s new manager were incorrect. His update has cast doubt over negotiations that had appeared to be progressing with the two Spaniards.
Al-Ahli Saudi had seemed close to appointing Jaissle’s replacement, but the latest developments mean the club’s managerial process may have to be broadened once again.
Jaissle submitted his resignation to the club after guiding Al-Ahli Saudi to two successive AFC Champions League Elite titles. The German coach is seeking a new challenge with Newcastle United, prompting the Saudi club to begin its search for a replacement.
Reports in Saudi Arabia had indicated that Xavi was at the top of Al-Ahli Saudi’s shortlist. Al Riyadiyah reported on Friday evening that the club had given the former Barcelona manager 48 hours to decide whether to accept its formal offer.
According to the newspaper, Al-Ahli Saudi were continuing negotiations with several other managers at the same time, in case Xavi rejected the proposal. The club was also said to be considering appointing a coach with previous experience in the Saudi Pro League or in one of the competitions in the region.
That approach reflects the uncertainty surrounding the talks, with the club attempting to maintain alternative options while waiting for Xavi’s response.
A separate report from French website Foot Mercato on Saturday claimed that Al-Ahli Saudi had reached an advanced stage in negotiations with Marcelino Garcia Toral. It reported that the Spanish coach had agreed to take charge, with the two sides still working to complete the final details of his contract.
Those claims are now at odds with Romano’s assessment that Marcelino is not close to becoming the club’s manager at this stage. The same applies to Xavi, whose 48-hour deadline had reportedly made him the leading contender.
Al-Ahli Saudi must therefore reassess its plans for the dugout as it prepares for life after Jaissle. The club’s next appointment will follow the German’s highly successful spell, which ended after consecutive continental triumphs and his decision to pursue a move to Newcastle United.
