Marino Pusic Powerful Football Journey From Mostar to Al Ahli

Introduction

Marino Pušić is a football manager whose career has developed through playing, futsal, youth coaching, assistant management and senior club management. Born in Mostar on August 18, 1971, he built much of his professional career in Dutch football before taking charge of major clubs in Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. His career combines tactical experience with a long record of working inside competitive European football environments.

Pušić is particularly known for his work at FC Twente, Feyenoord and Shakhtar Donetsk. He helped FC Twente win the Eerste Divisie in 2018–19, contributed to Feyenoord’s Eredivisie title as an assistant in 2022–23, and guided Shakhtar Donetsk to the Ukrainian league title and two Ukrainian Cup victories. In August 2026, he began a new chapter as head coach of Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli on a contract running until June 2028.

Quick Bio

Category	Details
Full Name	Marino Pušić
Date of Birth	August 18, 1971
Birthplace	Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Profession	Football manager and former footballer
Playing Position	Midfielder
Current Club	Al Ahli
Current Role	Head Coach
Coaching Licence	UEFA Pro Licence
Preferred Formation	4-3-3 attacking
Previous Major Clubs	FC Twente, AZ Alkmaar, Feyenoord, Shakhtar Donetsk, Al Jazira
Major Head-Coaching Honour	Eerste Divisie champion with FC Twente
Major Shakhtar Honours	Ukrainian Premier League and two Ukrainian Cups
Major Assistant-Coaching Honour	Eredivisie champion with Feyenoord
Current Contract	Al Ahli, through June 2028

Early Life and Football Background

Marino Pušić was born in Mostar on August 18, 1971. He developed as a footballer and came through the football system at Velež Mostar before continuing his playing career in the Netherlands and other European countries. His playing background eventually became an important foundation for his transition into coaching.

His playing career included De Graafschap, Red Star Belgrade, Velež Mostar, Rheden, Köln, Eupen, Babberich and De Treffers. After his football career, he also played futsal and began developing his coaching experience in that form of the sport.

From Player to Coach

Pušić did not become a prominent manager overnight. His development followed several stages, beginning with futsal coaching before he moved into youth football and professional first-team environments.

From 2010 to 2013, he worked with the Vitesse/AGOVV Under-19 team. He then became an assistant coach at NAC Breda, worked with Inter Baku in Azerbaijan and joined FC Twente’s coaching staff. This period allowed him to develop experience in training, tactical preparation and professional team management.

FC Twente Breakthrough

FC Twente became the club where Pušić established himself as a senior head coach. He initially worked as an assistant before taking temporary charge of the team on two occasions during the 2017–18 season.

He subsequently became the permanent head coach for the 2018–19 campaign. Pušić guided FC Twente to the Eerste Divisie championship and helped the club secure promotion back to the Eredivisie. It was a major breakthrough because it demonstrated his ability to manage a first-team project and deliver a clear competitive objective.

Transfermarkt records 42 matches for Pušić during his main FC Twente managerial spell, with an average of 2.12 points per match. His earlier caretaker periods added further first-team experience.

AZ Alkmaar and Tactical Development

After FC Twente, Pušić moved to AZ Alkmaar as an assistant coach in 2019. This stage was significant because he worked alongside Arne Slot, who later became one of the most successful Dutch managers of the modern era.

Pušić’s role at AZ allowed him to continue developing his tactical knowledge while working within a structured professional coaching staff. Transfermarkt records him as an assistant at AZ from 2019 to 2021 and identifies Arne Slot among the managers with whom he worked.

Feyenoord and Eredivisie Success

Pušić followed Arne Slot to Feyenoord in 2021. His position as assistant coach placed him inside a team that would soon achieve major success in Dutch football.

During the 2021–22 season, Feyenoord reached the UEFA Europa Conference League final. In the following campaign, the club won the Eredivisie title. Pušić was part of the coaching staff during that championship season, adding a major league title to his professional record.

His Feyenoord period was important for another reason. Working in a successful coaching structure strengthened his reputation as a tactical specialist capable of contributing to high-level team development.

Shakhtar Donetsk Appointment

In October 2023, Shakhtar Donetsk appointed Pušić as head coach. The Ukrainian club announced his arrival on October 24, 2023, describing him as a Bosnian specialist and outlining his previous coaching experience in the Netherlands.

Pušić explained after his appointment that the decision was not easy because he had enjoyed success at Feyenoord. However, he believed the Shakhtar project offered an important new challenge and saw significant potential within the young squad.

Shakhtar Donetsk Success

Pušić enjoyed a highly successful period at Shakhtar. In the 2023–24 season, he guided the club to the Ukrainian Premier League title and Ukrainian Cup, completing a domestic double.

He then added another Ukrainian Cup during the 2024–25 season. Shakhtar’s own records state that Pušić’s team played 71 competitive matches during his tenure, recording 44 wins, 13 draws and 14 defeats. The team scored 139 goals and conceded 71.

His achievements at Shakhtar represented the strongest period of his career as a head coach up to that point. He also managed the club in European competition, including a notable Champions League victory against Barcelona.

Managing During a Difficult Period

Pušić’s Shakhtar experience was also distinctive because he managed the club while Ukraine was facing the ongoing consequences of war.

In interviews, he spoke about the demanding circumstances surrounding the club and the personal significance of his own background. His experience made the Shakhtar period more than a normal football assignment, combining sporting pressure with an unusually difficult working environment.

When his time at Shakhtar ended in May 2025, Pušić described the period as an extraordinary journey and said it had given him valuable experience both as a coach and as a person.

Al Jazira Experience

After leaving Shakhtar, Pušić continued his international coaching career with Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates.

He managed Al Jazira during the 2025–26 season, gaining his first major coaching experience in the Gulf region. Transfermarkt records 30 matches during that managerial spell, with an average of 1.70 points per match.

Al Ahli later stated that Pušić helped Al Jazira secure qualification for the AFC Champions League and guided the club to a domestic cup final. This experience also gave him additional knowledge of the football environment in the Gulf.

Marino Pusic and Al Ahli

In August 2026, Pušić was appointed head coach of Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia. The club announced that he had signed a two-year contract running until June 2028.

His appointment followed the departure of Matthias Jaissle, who left Al Ahli to become head coach of Newcastle United. Pušić arrived with experience from Dutch, Ukrainian and Gulf football and a record of winning domestic trophies as both a head coach and assistant.

The move represents one of the biggest opportunities of his career. Al Ahli is a major Saudi club and entered the 2026–27 season as the reigning Asian champion, meaning Pušić inherited a team with significant expectations.

Coaching Philosophy

Pušić is associated with attacking football, intensity and tactical flexibility. Al Ahli specifically identified these characteristics when announcing his appointment.

His preferred formation is listed by Transfermarkt as 4-3-3 attacking. However, his career suggests that his approach is not limited to one formation. His experience across different clubs has required him to adapt his tactics to different players, competitions and football cultures.

One positive aspect of his coaching record is his ability to work within different environments. The negative side is that his career has also included periods of relatively short duration, meaning sustained success at one club over many seasons remains an important future challenge.

Career Statistics

Pušić’s senior managerial record includes three major head-coaching positions before his Al Ahli appointment.

Club	Role	Matches	Points Per Match
FC Twente	Head Coach	42	2.12
Shakhtar Donetsk	Head Coach	71	2.07
Al Jazira	Head Coach	30	1.70

These figures come from Transfermarkt’s managerial record. His assistant-coaching periods at AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord are also part of his professional career, although assistant statistics are not presented in the same format.

Career Timeline

Year	Career Development
1989–2001	Professional and senior playing career
Early 2000s	Continued football and futsal involvement
2010–2013	Vitesse/AGOVV Under-19 manager
2013–2014	NAC Breda assistant coach
2015	Inter Baku assistant coach
2015–2018	FC Twente assistant coach
2017–2018	FC Twente caretaker manager periods
2018–2019	FC Twente head coach
2018–2019	Eerste Divisie champion
2019–2021	AZ Alkmaar assistant coach
2021–2023	Feyenoord assistant coach
2022–2023	Eredivisie champion with Feyenoord staff
2023–2025	Shakhtar Donetsk head coach
2023–2024	Ukrainian league and Cup double
2024–2025	Ukrainian Cup winner
2025–2026	Al Jazira head coach
2026–Present	Al Ahli head coach

The timeline is supported by official club records and managerial career databases.

Major Achievements

FC Twente

Pušić’s first major achievement as a head coach came when he led FC Twente to the 2018–19 Eerste Divisie championship and promotion to the Eredivisie.

Feyenoord

As part of Feyenoord’s coaching staff, he contributed to the club’s 2022–23 Eredivisie championship campaign.

Shakhtar Donetsk

His biggest collection of trophies as a head coach came at Shakhtar. He won the Ukrainian Premier League in 2023–24 and the Ukrainian Cup in both 2023–24 and 2024–25.

Family and Personal Life

Pušić has publicly spoken about the importance of his family during major career decisions. When discussing his move to Shakhtar, he referred to conversations with his family before accepting the challenge.

Reliable football records also identify Noah Pušić as his son. Beyond this documented information, private details about his family life should not be expanded without reliable public evidence.

Why Marino Pusic Matters in Modern Football

Pušić’s career demonstrates how a coach can build a reputation through several different routes. He did not begin as a globally famous manager. Instead, he developed through playing, futsal, youth football, assistant coaching and eventually senior management.

His experience with FC Twente, AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord established his Dutch football credentials. His Shakhtar success then demonstrated that he could lead a major club independently. The move to Al Jazira expanded his Gulf experience, while the Al Ahli appointment has placed him in charge of one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent clubs.

A Necessary Keyword Clarification

The phrase British physiologist and biologist does not accurately describe Marino Pušić. He is a football manager and former midfielder, not a British physiologist or biologist. Using that unrelated phrase to describe him would create misleading information for readers and search engines.

For a biography intended to rank naturally, relevant terms such as Marino Pusic, Marino Pušić biography, Bosnian football manager, Croatian-Dutch football coach, Al Ahli manager, Shakhtar Donetsk manager, FC Twente coach, Feyenoord assistant coach and football manager are substantially more appropriate.

Conclusion

Marino Pušić has built an impressive coaching career through persistence, tactical development and experience across several football cultures. His journey from Mostar and professional football to Dutch coaching, Feyenoord, Shakhtar Donetsk and the Gulf demonstrates a steady progression rather than an overnight rise.

His greatest head-coaching achievements came with Shakhtar Donetsk, where he won three domestic trophies and established himself as a manager capable of handling major sporting pressure. His appointment by Al Ahli in 2026 now provides another opportunity to strengthen his reputation at one of Asia’s leading clubs. With a contract through June 2028, his work in Saudi Arabia will be an important next chapter in the career of Marino Pušić.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Marino Pusic?

Marino Pušić is a football manager and former midfielder who is currently the head coach of Al Ahli.

2. When was Marino Pusic born?

Marino Pušić was born on August 18, 1971, in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

3. What is Marino Pusic famous for?

He is best known for winning major domestic trophies with Shakhtar Donetsk and helping FC Twente and Feyenoord achieve important success.

4. Is Marino Pusic married?

Pušić has publicly referred to his wife and family, although detailed private information about his personal life is limited.

5. Does Marino Pusic have children?

Yes, reliable football records identify Noah Pušić as his son.

6. What nationality is Marino Pusic?

Al Ahli describes Pušić as a Croatian-Dutch coach, while Shakhtar’s official biography identifies his birthplace as Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

7. Which club does Marino Pusic manage?

As of August 2026, Marino Pušić is the head coach of Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli.

8. What trophies has Marino Pusic won?

As a head coach, he has won the Eerste Divisie with FC Twente, the Ukrainian Premier League with Shakhtar Donetsk and two Ukrainian Cups.

9. What was Marino Pusic’s role at Feyenoord?

He worked as an assistant coach at Feyenoord and was part of the staff that won the 2022–23 Eredivisie title.

10. What is Marino Pusic’s coaching style?

His football philosophy is associated with attacking football, intensity and tactical flexibility.