Latest news with #MatthiasJaissle
Arab Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Arab Times
Al-Ahli opens negotiations with Xavi Hernández
RIYADH, May 25: Media reports reveal that Al-Ahli Saudi Club has made a surprising move at the close of the current season by approaching Spanish coach Xavi Hernández with an offer to take over as head coach starting next season. The decision comes as the club plans to part ways with current German manager Matthias Jaissle. Al-Ahli, currently sitting fifth in the Roshen League and recently crowned AFC Champions League winners, is reportedly eager to secure Xavi's services after he departs from FC Barcelona in June 2024. However, negotiations could prove challenging due to the substantial financial terms reportedly being sought by the 45-year-old tactician.
Saudi Gazette
18-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Al Ahli reaffirm commitment to Matthias Jaissle amid contract renewal talks
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Al Ahli Saudi FC have reaffirmed their commitment to head coach Matthias Jaissle, dismissing speculation about a potential split and confirming that the German tactician remains under contract until 2026. In an official statement released Saturday, the club denied any reports suggesting a termination of Jaissle's contract or talks with alternative candidates. 'Such claims are baseless and completely unfounded,' the club said, adding that all official communications are issued exclusively via its verified platforms. Al Ahli further revealed that talks are already underway to revise Jaissle's existing contract to enhance technical continuity ahead of a critical upcoming season. 'Coach Jaissle is a cornerstone of our sporting project,' the statement read. 'We value the professional strides made under his leadership and are confident in his ability to drive forward our long-term strategy.'The club's statement comes in response to widespread media reports suggesting an imminent parting of ways, intensified by comments made by Jaissle himself following Al Ahli's recent league win over Al at the post-match press conference, Jaissle expressed gratitude for the players and fans but noted: 'The club decided not to renew my contract. There were no talks regarding extension terms or salary. My intention has always been to stay and build on what we've started, but that wasn't the club's direction.'Despite the remarks, local media reports confirmed that Al Ahli have in fact presented Jaissle with a contract extension offer for one additional season. The proposed deal includes a salary raise starting next season, where he remains under current package reportedly totals €9 million annually, reaching €12 million with performance bonuses. However, the coach is said to be seeking a long-term four-year deal worth €20 million per season — a demand Al Ahli management views as excessive at this stage of the club's rebuilding project.
Al Arabiya
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Al Ahli's journey to AFC Champions League Elite glory: 5 key moments
Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli won the AFC Champions League Elite title on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale. It was an historic achievement for Al Ahli as it claimed its first ever triumph in the competition – becoming only the third Saudi club to win Asia's biggest club prize. The road to AFC Champions League Elite glory began last September with eight games in the West Asian group stage. Al Ahli finished in second place behind fellow Saudi team Al Hilal, before a two-legged victory in the last-16 took Matthias Jaissle's team into the new-look 'finals' stage. Three successive wins in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final – all held at Al Ahli's own King Abdullah Sports City Stadium – propelled the club to its maiden ACL Elite trophy. Here, Al Arabiya English highlights five key moments in Al Ahli's historic success. Beating the reigning champ Al Ahli came into Matchday 5 of the West Asian Group stage on the back of an electric start to its campaign, having won four straight games against Persepolis (Iran), Al Wasl (UAE), Al Rayyan (Qatar) and Al Shorta (Iraq). But Matthias Jaissle's side faced its toughest test so far against reigning champion Al Ain, travelling to the UAE to face the two-time competition winner. Al Ain had more chances but it was Al Ahli that prevailed 2-1 courtesy of a brace from Ivan Toney. The English striker had failed to score in his first four games but his ruthless finishing ensured Al Ahli kept pace with group leader Al Hilal. Three straight comebacks Champions of major titles require steely determination and Al Ahli demonstrated that in each of its final three West Asia group games. Ahead of the winter break in December, Al Ahli twice went behind at home to Iran's Esteghlal. But striker Toney was the hero again – keeping his cool to dispatch two penalties, including one in the 86th minute – as he salvaged a 2-2 draw and maintained Al Ahli's unbeaten record. It turned out to be the only time Jaissle's side failed to win in 13 continental matches this season. For more Saudi sports news, visit our dedicated page. In its penultimate group game in January, Al Ahli again found itself 1-0 down as AFC Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif put Al Sadd ahead in Qatar. But Al Ahli responded through Roberto Firmino, before further goals from center-back Roger Ibañez and Riyad Mahrez secured a 3-1 victory. Then, with Al Ahli battling Al Hilal for top spot in West Asia in the final group match, Qatar's Al Gharafa took a shock lead through Joselu. Once more, Al Ahli showed its resilience as goals from star quartet Toney, Firmino, Galeno and Mahrez saw the team romp to a 4-2 win. If Al Ahli's players didn't believe they were contenders before, those three straight comebacks demonstrated they had the mental fortitude to win the AFC Champions League. Mahrez magic wins last-16 tie Riyad Mahrez has unquestionably been Al Ahli's most important player since signing from Manchester City – fresh off winning the UEFA Champions League – in the summer of 2023. With a barely believable 61 goal contributions in 74 matches in all competitions, Mahrez's magic left foot has inspired Al Ahli time and again. Unsurprisingly, Mahrez's quality has particularly shone through on the continental stage and in the last-16, he produced a virtuoso display across two legs to eliminate Al Rayyan. A brilliant, curling-strike from an indirect free-kick saw Mahrez double Al Ahli's lead on its way to an emphatic 3-1 first leg win in Qatar. In the second leg, with the pressure starting to build a little, Mahrez intervened again. He deftly controlled Galeno's scooped through-ball before delicately lifting the ball over Al Rayyan goalkeeper Paulo Victor. The Algerian added a second soon after to put the exclamation point on a 5-1 aggregate victory, with that goal his eighth of nine scored in the 2024-25 ACL Elite; only Golden Boot winner Salem al-Dawsari netted more than Mahrez. Holding off Al Hilal Although Al Ahli's 3-0 quarter-final victory over Buriram United was a professional display from Jaissle's players, the result was wholly expected. But in the semi-final, against four-time Asian champion and 19-time Saudi Pro League winner Al Hilal, Al Ahli was playing the role of underdog. While it was Al Hilal's seventh AFC Champions League final in 11 years, for Al Ahli it was a first appearance in the last four since the club last reached the tournament's final in 2012. And when the two teams last met in Asia in 2019, Al Hilal had won 4-3 on aggregate to knock out Al Ahli in the last-16. Despite history being firmly on Al Hilal's side, Al Ahli produced arguably its finest showing of the entire tournament to beat its Riyadh rival 3-1. Spurred on by a passionate, partisan crowd at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Al Ahli raced into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Firmino and Toney. Al Hilal responded through captain Salem al-Dawsari but a second-half red card to Kalidou Koulibaly tilted the game in Al Ahli's favor. Still, Al Hilal pressed hard for an equalizer and the nerves were palpable for Al Ahli until Firas al-Buraikan's stoppage-time goal finally enabled the club's players and fans to draw a collective sigh of relief and begin their celebrations. A faultless final With expectation at fever pitch ahead of Saturday's final, the outcome was always going to depend on how Al Ahli's players handled the gravity of the occasion. But Jaissle's side once again proved it possesses the sort of ruthless streak that had been missing from Al Ahli's previous attempts to win Asia's biggest club football prize. Opponent Kawasaki Frontale showed by beating Al Nassr in the semi-final that it could compete with high-quality teams, but the Saudi host's stars shone on the big occasion. Any early nerves were settled by two quick-fire goals before half-time. The first, from Galeno, was a sensational strike that rifled into the roof of Louis Yamagouchi's goal. Ninety-five percent of the King Abdullah Sports City stadium went wild at Galeno's momentous goal and just seven minutes later, the Al Ahli fans were really in dreamland. Club captain Firmino, who provided the pass for Galeno's opener, was on hand with another assist – crossing for Ivorian Franck Kessie to head home a second goal. The players saw out the game, and the tournament, with a 2-0 win, leaving Firmino and his team-mates to lift the trophy against the backdrop of a deafening roar of more than 58,000 fans in Jeddah.
Qatar Tribune
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Ahli SFC's title is for fans: Jaissle
Agencies Jeddah Matthias Jaissle paid equal tribute to the fans after Al Ahli Saudi FC were crowned AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 winners following a 2-0 win against Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday. While Jaissle hailed his players for maintaining the high standards they have set throughout the campaign with another impressive display in the final, he was immensely thankful to the support from the stands as over 58,000 packed the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. 'I'm so proud of the players for how they were doing, how they were performing, how the journey went in this competition,' said Jaissle. 'Also the fans who created an amazing atmosphere, which we never take for granted. Together we can achieve special things and that was tonight. It's nice to give something back to the supporters.' The title of Asian champions has come just three years after Al Ahli were relegated from the Saudi Pro League, which Jaissle said made their triumph even more deserving. 'It's been a crazy journey. Not that long ago, it looked completely different. Incredible how much support they (the fans) bring to the club and the guys delivered today to bring something back that they deserve.' Unlike their previous two AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2025 matches where they took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes, Al Ahli actually had a fight on their hands against Japan's Frontale before Galeno's 35th minute wonder strike settled their nerves. With their confidence boosted, Al Ahli began to play free-flowing football with Franck Kessie doubling their advantage before the break with the Saudi Pro League then opting for a controlled display in the second half. Admitting that there was immense pressure on the team after they qualified for the final, Jaissle tipped his hat to the incredible character of his players. 'The opponents caused us difficulties, they were well organised but overall we fully deserved it. It's never easy. There's a lot of pressure in such a match and you need to deal with it. 'Even more proud how the players dealt with it. This is not normal and the players showed great personality. In the second half, we defended and we wanted to keep the clean sheet and we managed that in the end.'
Al Arabiya
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
What they said: All the best reaction as Al Ahli wins ACL Elite title
History was made on Saturday night as Al Ahli secured its first ever AFC Champions League Elite title – winning the first edition of the rebranded tournament. It ended a long wait for the club from Jeddah, which had lost two previous finals in 1986 and 2012. But first-half goals from winger Galeno and midfielder Franck Kessis saw Al Ahli beat Japan's Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 to finally lift Asia's biggest club prize. Al Ahli became only the third Saudi club to win the tournament after Al Hilal and Al Ittihad as Matthias Jaissle's side celebrated a milestone triumph on Saturday night. Here, Al Arabiya English brings you all the best reaction and quotes after Al Ahli's ACL Elite triumph from the football world. Matthias Jaissle – Al Ahli coach 'It's a crazy journey to be honest,' Jaissle said of Al Ahli's victory after the game. 'Not that long ago it looked completely different. But the fans, the club, they deserved it. How emotional they are and how much support they bring into the club is unbelievable and therefore the guys could deliver today and bring something back that they deserve. 'I'm so, so proud of the players. How they were performing, the whole journey in this competition. They put all the effort into that and the fans, who always created an amazing atmosphere and support, which is something we never took for granted. 'Together we can achieve special things and this is what happened tonight. [I'm] almost speechless. All respect for our opponent, they caused us difficulties. Overall, we totally deserved it. We didn't have one loss in this competition. Big chapeau [congratulations] to the players and the whole club.' Roberto Firmino – Al Ahli captain and ACL Elite MVP 'I am very happy and proud of the team, and of course very happy to make history here at this club,' Al Ahli captain Firmino said after being named tournament MVP for the 2024-25 season. 'It is not easy to become champions. We fight every match, and I call it the monster mentality. When you have the monster mentality to win all the games, then you become champions.' Riyad Mahrez – Al Ahli winger and scorer of nine ACL elite goals 'This is why we play football, to play in matches like this,' said Mahrez, who along with Firmino and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy became the first player to lift the UEFA and AFC Champions League titles. 'It is the first time for Al Ahli Club to win the Champions League. That was the aim. When we came here we wanted to make Al Ahli top of Asia and that is what we did. 'We played so good throughout the competition. We knew today would be a tricky game but we were so strong and so focused. That is how you win trophies and we are so happy. Now we have to celebrate and enjoy it with our family and friends.' Edouard Mendy – ACL elite 'Best Goalkeeper' winner 'We are so proud,' Al Ahli goalkeeper Mendy told reporters after the game. 'Once we knew that the final eight would be in Jeddah, it was our goal to be champions in front of our fans. Since I came here eighteen months ago, they have supported us so much. 'As I said when I signed here, it is to make the story – to continue to win trophies and make this club as big as it was before. The secret [to winning] is that my team-mates fought. If someone makes the effort, it will make it for the one next to saw the fire, you saw the spirit.' Shigetoshi Hasebe – Kawasaki Frontale coach 'For us, if we could play as we planned, we could have won,' losing coach Hasebe reflected in the post-match press conference. 'We showed that in the last two games, but tonight it didn't work so we have to do more in the future. This result is not what we expected. They played well. We conceded two goals and they deserve to be champions. 'Al Ahli could show their strength in the first half and we couldn't show ours. The key was the second goal that we conceded. The individual levels might be different but I believe both the individual and the team are very important. We showed our skill in the last game, but in every single game we played here we conceded two goals. That's something we need to improve in the future.' Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa – AFC president 'Our heartfelt congratulations go to Al Ahli for reaching the pinnacle of Asian club football with this historic victory. Their remarkable determination and consistency throughout the campaign are truly commendable. We must also praise Kawasaki Frontale for their fantastic run to the showpiece final and contributing to a thoroughly entertaining spectacle befitting of this prestigious competition.'
