Matthias Jaissle is considered an up-and-coming German coaching talent. However, things are not going well at his current job in Saudi Arabia. Is he on the verge of elimination?
When Matthias Jaissle moved to the Saudi Arabian football league in the summer of 2023 and became coach of Al-Ahli, he took this step as a surprise. The 36-year-old German had previously celebrated success as coach of Red Bull Salzburg, becoming Austrian champions twice and cup winners once with the club. A future in the Bundesliga did not seem out of the question.
But then came the step into the desert. However, after just over a year, Jaissle is reportedly threatened with retirement. As the French portal “Foot Mercato” reports, the club is said to have already contacted Hervé Renard, who most recently coached the French women’s national team. According to the report, Renard is the top favorite to succeed Jaissle, whose start to the season with Al-Ahli was disappointing.
With just seven points from six games, the club is currently only in tenth place in the Saudi Pro League despite having well-known players like Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez in the squad.
Jaissle’s environment vehemently denies the report on t-online: “The rumors that Matthias Jaissle could leave Al-Ahli are completely false,” they say. “He has the full support of his club and is seen as a key figure in the project following his success last season. Matthias is fully focused on the upcoming games in the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League.”
In his first season with the then newly promoted Al-Ahli, Jaissle immediately reached third place in the league.