Al Ahli appoints Rui Pedro Braz as Sporting Director.

Al Ahli Club Company has announced the appointment of Portuguese executive Rui Pedro Braz as Sporting Director, as part of efforts to strengthen its football operations across all teams and age groups.

Rui Pedro brings extensive experience from European football, having spent five seasons with Portuguese club Benfica. Since 2021, he has overseen major developments including restructuring the scouting network, creating a specialized data analysis department integrated with sports science, and developing pathways for youth players to progress to the first team.

Rui Pedro's strategy at Benfica led to significant success in the transfer market from 2021/22 through early 2025/26, while boosting the team's profile both on and off the pitch. During his tenure, Benfica won league titles and domestic cups, qualified for five consecutive UEFA Champions League campaigns, and established itself as one of Europe's top clubs for developing young talent.

Rui Pedro said he is proud to join Al Ahli and looks forward to working with all departments, coaching staff, and players to build a strong foundation for future success that lives up to the club's ambitions and fans' expectations.

He is expected to arrive in Jeddah early next week to officially start in his new role, as part of a plan to build a sustainable football project that will raise the club's profile domestically, regionally, and internationally.