Marino Pušić takes charge of Al-Ahli: what it means for Eduard Spertsyan
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
Saudi club Al-Ahli have officially announced the appointment of Marino Pušić as the new head coach of their first team. The Croatian-Dutch specialist has signed a two-year contract running until June 2028.
Pušić replaces Matthias Jaissle, who will continue his career at Newcastle. The new head coach will arrive at the club with his technical staff, whose members will be announced at a later date.
Pušić has extensive experience in European and Middle Eastern football. In the Netherlands, he worked at Twente, AZ and Feyenoord. In the 2018/19 season, he guided Twente to the Eerste Divisie title and secured the club’s return to the Eredivisie.
Pušić later joined Arne Slot’s coaching staff at Feyenoord. With the Rotterdam club, he won the Dutch league title in the 2022/23 season and reached the UEFA Europa Conference League final in 2021/22.
As Shakhtar Donetsk’s head coach, Pušić won the Ukrainian league title and two domestic cups. Under his leadership, the team also competed in the Champions League, recording a memorable victory over Barcelona.
His most recent job was at Al Jazira. Pušić helped the club qualify for the AFC Champions League and reach the domestic cup final for the first time in several years.
Throughout his career, Pušić has established himself as a coach who favours attacking football, high intensity and tactical flexibility. His style matches Al-Ahli’s ambitions and could be well suited to the team’s current squad.
For Eduard Spertsyan, the prospect of working with Pušić appears particularly promising. The Armenian midfielder is at his most effective in an attacking system that gives him freedom between the lines and allows him to play an active role in progressing the ball and creating chances.
Pušić’s football could bring out the best in Spertsyan’s key qualities: his technique, vision, ability on the ball and well-timed forward runs. The Croatian-Dutch coach’s appointment could therefore become an additional argument in favour of the midfielder moving to Al-Ahli.