Al Ahli are facing one of the most turbulent moments of their season after a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Al Shabab in Matchday 12 of the Saudi Pro League left the club in sixth place with 21 points from 11 games. The result exposed deep problems within the squad, with key players Ivan Toney, Edouard Mendy, and Merih Demiral all absent, and goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Sanabi sent off during the match, which compounded the defensive collapse. Coach Marino Bosicic drew sharp criticism for his handling of the game, and reports from Al-Midan Sport suggested the club's board had already decided to dismiss him before the final whistle even sounded. Bosicic's post-match press conference added fuel to the fire when he told a journalist asking about his future that they should be ashamed of the question, while also admitting the team made serious errors. Media figures and pundits called for his removal, with some arguing the problems began when the club replaced the previous coach before the season started. On the transfer front, one Saudi journalist reported that an unnamed club, widely interpreted as Al Ahli given the context, has been in talks with three coaches ranked among the best five in the world for around a month, though top candidates are reluctant to join mid-season. Sergio Conceicao, who coached Al Ittihad last season, has been mentioned as a candidate. Toney's situation adds further uncertainty, as the striker appeared in a London court on an assault charge and his return timeline remains unclear. Al Ahli face Al-Sadd in the AFC Champions League Elite on 2 November.