First title with Saudi club
© TM/Imago
Trainer Matthias Jaissle won the AFC Champions League with the Al-Ahli SFC. The Saudi Pro League club prevailed 2-0 in the final against the reigning Japanese cup winner Kawasaki Frontale, who had previously eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr from the competition. Galeno (35th minute) and the former Barcelona professional Franck Kessié (42nd) met for Al-Nahli.
For Jaissle, who is always traded at clubs in the Bundesliga, it is the first title with Al-Ahli since he had taken over there as a coach in 2023. It is also the first trophy for the club in the AFC Champions League.
Before the final, Jaissle had said at “Sky” about a possible triumph: “A Champions League title would be terrific, even if it is here in Asia. In the past, I always dreamed of the title in Europe. Now it could work in Asia. That would be incredibly cool.” Other well-known players in his team are the ex-Liverpool Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, formerly at Manchester City or the former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.