German coach Matthias Jaissle could leave Al Ahli for bitter rivals Al Hilal if talks over a new contract remain deadlocked, according to reports in Saudi Arabia.
Jaissle, who has led Al Ahli to significant success over the past two seasons, is entering the final year of his current deal and faces mounting uncertainty over his future at the Jeddah club. Several European sides are monitoring his situation following his impact in the Saudi Pro League.
Saudi journalist Mohammed Al-Bukairi reported that an Al Ahli delegation recently travelled to the team’s training camp in Portugal in an attempt to secure a contract extension, but negotiations with the 36-year-old coach broke down without agreement.
The delegation was said to include club figures Ahmed Al-Shanqeeti, Khaled Tash and Hazem Al-Hazmi, who held talks with Jaissle over the terms of a new deal.
Dispute over release clause, not salary
Al-Bukairi stated that the impasse is not related to Jaissle’s salary, stressing that the German has not asked for a pay rise. Instead, the sticking point concerns the proposed release and penalty clauses in the new contract.
Jaissle is reported to believe that the conditions do not sufficiently protect his interests, particularly given his role in rebuilding Al Ahli into a competitive side and steering the club to two continental titles during his tenure.
With discussions ending without a breakthrough, the likelihood of the coach departing at the end of the current season – or even earlier if a suitable offer arrives – has increased, the same reports suggest.
Al Hilal emerges as leading Saudi option
The most striking claim made by Al-Bukairi is that Al Hilal are viewed as the most realistic domestic destination for Jaissle should he decide to continue his career in Saudi Arabia rather than move to Europe.
He added that Jaissle also has multiple opportunities to return to Europe and take charge of clubs there, but insisted that Al Hilal remain a strong option within the Kingdom due to the Riyadh club’s determination to maintain their technical project with coaches who already understand the Saudi Pro League.
Al Hilal, known as “Al-Zaeem”, have invested heavily in recent seasons and are keen to keep stability in their football structure by working with managers familiar with the demands of competing in the league and in continental competitions.
Potentially explosive move
For now, the prospect of Jaissle crossing the divide from Al Ahli to Al Hilal is confined to speculation. However, any such move would be among the most controversial in the history of Saudi football.
The rivalry between the two clubs is one of the fiercest in the country, and Jaissle has become a highly regarded figure among Al Ahli supporters following his achievements since arriving at the club.
A direct switch to Al Hilal, particularly against the backdrop of a contract dispute, would be viewed by many fans as a dramatic twist – and could spark a major reaction across the Saudi football scene if it were to materialise.
