Matthias Jaissle was released by RB Salzburg one day before the first game in the Austrian Bundesliga. The reason is Jaissle’s desire to move to Al-Ahli SFC in Saudi Arabia, as Salzburg announced on Friday. Al-Ahli has now made the commitment official.

According to Sky information, the 35-year-old is signing for three years until 2026. Salzburg should receive a fee of between three and four million euros, which should be made up of a fixed amount and variable payments.

Jaissle works with several superstars at Al-Ahli

In Saudi Arabia, Jaissle will work with several superstars. The club announced the signing of Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City on Friday, while Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy joined Al-Ahli this summer.

The 35-year-old only told the club about 48 hours before the start of the season that he wanted to leave RB. “We are of the opinion that a coach who is so intensely concerned with a possible change of club just two days before the start of an important season should not be present at this start,” said Managing Director Stephan Reiter. At the start of the league on Saturday (6.30 p.m.), the previous assistant coaches Florens Koch and Alexander Hauser should lead the team.

Former Bundesliga professional Jaissle has been Salzburg coach since the summer of 2021 and has won the championship twice and the cup once during this time.