Al-Ahli Make Sporting Director Appointment a Priority Under New Board
Al-Ahli are moving to strengthen their football leadership after identifying the appointment of a new sporting director as one of the first major priorities for the club’s recently formed board. The Saudi Pro League side are seeking a successor to Osama Hawsawi, who has stepped down from the role, and hope to make progress on the appointment in the coming days.
Sources quoted by Arriyadiyah say the search is being led by the board of directors in close coordination with the club’s chief executive. Al-Ahli are also drawing on specialist external expertise to help identify candidates with the experience and qualifications required to oversee a modern sporting department.
Al-Ahli seek the right fit, not a quick appointment
Discussions with several potential candidates are understood to be ongoing. However, the club is reportedly focused on finding the right person for the position rather than rushing to fill the vacancy. That approach reflects the importance of the sporting director’s role: the successful candidate is expected to help shape recruitment, squad planning and the broader football strategy.
For a club with ambitions to compete at the top of Saudi football, the appointment could have consequences well beyond the immediate transfer window. A sporting director can provide continuity between coaching staff, senior executives and the board, helping ensure decisions about player recruitment and development support a consistent long-term plan. The role may also help Al-Ahli assess squad needs, manage resources and build a clearer pathway between the first team and emerging talent.
Al-Ahli have not publicly confirmed a shortlist or named a preferred candidate. Until an appointment is announced, the process remains a key test of the new board’s ability to establish its football structure and define how sporting decisions will be made.
Board rejects claims it is stepping away from football
The same sources have pushed back against suggestions that the new board intends to withdraw from football matters and leave first-team sporting decisions entirely to the chief executive. They say those claims are inaccurate, adding that the board and executive management continue to work together on the club’s plans, priorities and strategy for the period ahead.
The distinction matters. Al-Ahli’s stated direction is not to remove the board from oversight, but to create a more organised system in which responsibilities are clearly defined. Under that model, the board sets direction and provides governance, while qualified specialists are empowered to make and implement decisions within their areas of responsibility.
Such an approach can help reduce uncertainty and improve accountability. When authority is clearly assigned, executives and football professionals can act more efficiently, while the board retains a role in monitoring whether decisions serve the club’s wider interests. For Al-Ahli, filling the sporting director vacancy is therefore part of a broader effort to strengthen its institutional framework, not simply a personnel change.
Governance and football planning in focus
The club’s leadership is said to be committed to clear governance and an institutional approach to decision-making. Strengthening the sporting structure and placing qualified staff in specialist roles are among the board’s main objectives. The aim is to ensure that football operations are supported by a coherent strategy rather than relying on isolated decisions or short-term fixes.
That structure could be particularly important as Saudi clubs continue to adapt to changes in ownership, management and the wider professional game. With competition for players and experienced football executives increasing, clubs need to balance immediate results with careful recruitment and long-term planning. A capable sporting director can help connect those priorities, though the effectiveness of the role will ultimately depend on the authority, resources and clarity of responsibility provided by the club.
Abdullah Al-Sabban leads the new board
Al-Ahli Club Company announced its new board of directors on 5 October, with Abdullah bin Aidarous Al-Sabban appointed as chairman. The leadership change comes during a period of transition for Saudi club companies, as organisations across the country continue to refine their administrative structures and operating models.
Al-Sabban is joined on the board by Jake Silverstein, Ahmed bin Hamid Al-Thubaiti, Mohammed bin Ammar Al-Dabbagh, Iyad bin Rashad Rida, Hussein bin Hassan Eid and Atef bin Mahdi Muqni. The new board now faces the task of setting priorities, supporting the executive leadership and helping establish a stable framework for Al-Ahli’s sporting ambitions.
The sporting director search is an early indication of how the board intends to approach that responsibility. A well-chosen appointment could help align recruitment, squad development and coaching objectives, while giving the club a stronger foundation for future seasons. Conversely, a rushed or poorly defined appointment could leave uncertainty over who leads key football decisions. That is one reason the reported emphasis on careful evaluation may be significant for supporters.
What the appointment could mean for Al-Ahli
For fans, the next steps will be closely watched. Supporters will want to know who takes charge of the sporting department, what authority the role carries and how the club plans to address its squad needs. The appointment may also offer clues about Al-Ahli’s priorities in upcoming transfer windows and the balance the club intends to strike between established players and long-term development.
Al-Ahli’s next listed Saudi Pro League fixture is against Al-Khaleej on 24 October 2026. While the sporting director search is unlikely to determine the outcome of a single match, the decisions made now could shape the club’s direction over a much longer period. In football, effective planning is often measured not only by immediate results but by whether a club can build a stable, competitive team season after season.
Prediction: Al-Ahli are likely to continue assessing candidates before making a final decision, with the board seeking a sporting director who can work effectively alongside the chief executive and contribute to a unified football strategy. The appointment will be an important early marker of the new administration’s ambitions—and of how successfully it can combine strong governance with competitive progress on the pitch.
