The management of Al Ahli Club Company has placed the recruitment of a new sporting director among the priorities of the new board in the coming period, to replace the resigned Osama Housawi, according to sources close to "Al Riyadiah". The sources clarified that the board of directors is leading the selection process for the sporting director, in full coordination with the chief executive officer, and with the assistance of external experts specialized in attracting talents in the field of sports management. Discussions are still ongoing with a number of candidates, with priority given to choosing the most suitable person for Al Ahli without rushing to decide on this important position.
Reaffirming institutional governance
The sources indicated that the executive management continues to work with the board of directors on the club's plans, strategies, and priorities for the next stage, and denied the validity of what is being circulated regarding the board's distance from football files and transferring the responsibility of making sports decisions related to the first team to the chief executive officer. It was added that the board of directors of the Western Pole is committed to clear governance and an institutional approach in making decisions. One of the board's main priorities is to strengthen the club's sports structure and enable specialized and qualified talents to make and implement decisions within the scope of their responsibilities, in a way that serves the interests of Al Ahli.
Details of Housawi's resignation
"Al Riyadiah" published news on September 27 last year about the resignation of Osama Housawi, the acting sporting director at Al Ahli Club, from his position, as broadcast by the "Al Riyadiah - Breaking" account on the "X" platform, citing private sources. According to the same source, Housawi's resignation came amid divergent views with the club's management regarding a number of decisions related to the first football team.
Backgrounds of Baraz's dismissal
It was pointed out that Housawi's departure came 24 days after he was appointed as the sporting director at the Jadaoui Club, specifically on September 3 of this year, when the football management of Al Ahli Club Company decided to dismiss the Portuguese Rui Pedro Baraz, the sporting director, and appoint Osama Housawi to take over his duties in the coming period. "Al Riyadiah" had revealed at the time, citing private sources, that entrusting the task to Housawi took place after a three-way meeting that lasted 60 minutes, noting that the meeting included Ahmed Al-Shanqiti, chairman of the executive committee, Fabrice Bouchet, chief executive officer, and Ahmed Al-Thubaiti, committee member, and ended with an agreement to dismiss Baraz before meeting with him and informing him of the decision.
The same sources then clarified that the decision to dismiss the Portuguese sporting director, who was appointed to the position on October 2, 2025, coming from Portuguese Benfica, came after the losses against Al-Khaleej and Al-Hilal in the second and third rounds of the Saudi Pro League, in addition to the public anger over the team's results and levels during the past period. It added that company officials held consultations on Wednesday evening with a number of first football team leaders and stars, discussing the sports management situation with them and listening to their opinions on whether Baraz should continue or not.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
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