Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

Newly married Cristiano Ronaldo chases milestone as Al Hilal regroup: Saudi Pro League season preview

thenationalnews.com · 5h · first reportShare

The 2026/27 Saudi Pro League season kicks off on Thursday with a much-changed Al Ahli Saudi among the first clubs in action. Gone are Franck Kessie and Riyad Mahrez – stalwarts of the team that won back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite crowns – following the end of their contracts. For the first time in three years, there will be a new face in the dugout. Marino Pusic has replaced Matthias Jaissle, mastermind of those two Asian triumphs, who has made the move to England to take over at Newcastle United . Pusic led Shakhtar Donetsk to the 2024 Ukrainian league title and joins on a two year-contract. He will look to Ivan Toney for goals, but the prolific Englishman has a charge of assault hanging over his head and will appear at a London Magistrates' Court on ​September 24. Toney scored 42 goals last ⁠season as Al Ahli reclaimed the Asian Champions League and finished third in the SPL. He was also part of ⁠England's squad during the recent Fifa World Cup. Toney has been linked with a m