Al-Ahli Saudi FC officially announced the appointment of Frenchman Fabrice Bouquet as CEO, a strategic move aimed at strengthening the club's administrative structure and keeping pace with the qualitative leap witnessed in Saudi sports. This decision supports the institutional transformation and sustainable development path pursued by the prestigious Jeddah-based club.
A distinguished career from Nice to Jeddah
Fabrice Bouquet has a proven track record in international sports management, having served as CEO of French club OGC Nice During his tenure with the club, Bouquet successfully overhauled its operational structure, encompassing sporting, financial, and administrative aspects. His leadership was marked by financial and organizational stability, as well as strengthening the club's presence in European competitions and developing its talent academies – a model Al Ahly aims to emulate.
Previous experience in the Saudi market
What makes this appointment special is that Bouquet is no stranger to the Saudi football scene. Before assuming leadership roles at clubs, he worked for major international consulting firms such as McKinsey & Company and Portas Consulting. During that time, he was involved in developing strategic projects with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the Professional League (Roshan League), giving him a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the Kingdom.
The context of sports transformation in the Kingdom
The appointment of Bouquet comes at a time when the sports sector in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic transformation as part of Vision 2030. Following the Public Investment Fund's acquisition of a 75% stake in Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli clubs, the focus has shifted not only to attracting international players but also to attracting world-class management talent. This approach aims to transform the clubs into professional commercial entities that adhere to the highest international governance standards, a role Bouquet is tasked with fulfilling at the trophy-rich club.
Strategic tasks and future aspirations
As the new CEO, Bouquet will take on significant responsibilities, including full oversight of both sporting and commercial aspects. He is expected to focus on:
- Strengthening internal governance and increasing spending efficiency.
- Developing the club's infrastructure and training facilities.
- Building a sustainable relationship with the broad Al-Ahli fan base and the Jeddah community.
- Increase the club's commercial and investment revenues.
Fabrice Bouquet is scheduled to officially begin his duties in Jeddah in mid-February, amid high expectations from fans that his administrative experience will contribute to bringing the club back to the podium and achieving the desired administrative stability.
