Welcome to Al Ahli, Coach Marino Pusić

Al Ahli Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Marino Pusić as the new Head Coach of the First Team.

The Croatian-Dutch coach has signed a two-year contract until June 2028.

Marino Pusić arrives at Al Ahli with extensive experience across European and Gulf football. In the Netherlands, he worked with FC Twente, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord. As Head Coach of FC Twente, he guided the club to promotion back to the Eredivisie as Eerste Divisie champions in 2018–19. At Feyenoord, where he worked alongside Arne Slot, he was part of the coaching staff that won the 2022–23 Eredivisie title and reached the UEFA Europa Conference League Final in 2021–22.

As Head Coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, Pusić led the club to the Ukrainian Premier League title and two Ukrainian Cup victories, while competing in the UEFA Champions League, including a memorable victory against FC Barcelona. He most recently coached Al Jazira in the UAE Pro League, where he helped secure qualification for the AFC Champions League and guided the club to a domestic cup final after several years without reaching that stage, further strengthening his understanding of the regional football environment.

Recognised throughout his career for his coaching impact, Pusić has been awarded Coach of the Year by clubs where he worked as a head coach and was also nominated for UAE Pro League Coach of the Year in his most recent season.

Pusić’s football philosophy, based on attacking football, intensity and tactical flexibility, aligns with the identity and ambitions developed by Al Ahli in recent seasons, while matching the qualities and profile of the Club’s squad.

Coach Pusić will arrive with his full technical staff, whose composition will be announced in due course.