Brownhill on RSL debut, Al Shabab aim & 'incredible' Vincent Kompany | OneFootball

Josh Brownhill was one of the later arrivals to the Roshn Saudi League last summer, the Englishman joining Al Shabab from Burley in his homeland.

Brownhill has gone on to become a pivotal part of the Al Shabab side, featuring 25 times in the RSL this season alone. In that, and despite a change of manager mid-season, the enterprising midfielder has scored five goals and registered two assists.

However, as Al Shabab sit 12th in the 2025-26 table with only four rounds remaining, and having last week lost the final of the AGCFF Gulf Club Champions League, Brownhill is predicting a better showing next season.

We caught up with the Englishman to talk his debut RSL campaign, adapting to Saudi football, keeping tabs on former club Burnley, and even why he knew Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany was always destined for greatness.

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We’re coming to the end of your first season in the RSL. How do you assess it so far?

“Apart from early on in the season, when the results weren’t great, I've enjoyed my time here. It's been really nice: a change culture, a change of scenery, playing in nice weather at times. It’s been enjoyable.

“Ideally, I would like to be higher up the table and maybe have won the [AGCFF] Gulf Club [Champions League] that we were in, but it's football, there’s highs and lows. And I'm already looking forward to next season.”

You and a number of teammates joined Al Shabab as the summer transfer window was about to close. How did that affect the team’s start to the season?

“That was so important. Beginning of the season, players weren't fit, I wasn't myself. I didn't want it to take as long as it did, but again, that's football - that happens.

“We had a lot of injuries and sendings off. It was probably the craziest start to a season I've ever had. I think we've had like 19 red cards this season [in all competitions], which I've probably not seen 19 red cards in my whole career.

“But certainly when we started getting players fit, we've hit a real good form playing-wise; I don't think there's been many games of recent that we've deserved to lose.

“We have been on the wrong side, but we've definitely been in the game if not better than the majority of our opponents. So next year should be better. As I said, I'm certainly looking forward to showing that.”

This has been your first experience of football outside England. What’s surprised you, if anything, about the RSL?

“What has surprised me the most? I would say I knew it was going to be very difficult, for sure, but it’s been probably a little bit more difficult.

“Playing in a lot of heat as well is very tough. I'm used to a super-high intensity, and here it's probably not as intense because you make two runs and you're tired because of the weather.

“I'd say I’ve not been surprised by how high the level is, especially in some games, but it's probably been a better standard than what I first thought.”

Obviously, you were key last season to getting Burnley promoted to the Premier League, but their relegation has just been confirmed. How do you view their campaign in the English top flight?

“Yeah, it's upsetting. We've been up and down for the past few years, and I thought this year was going to be the year where they stay up. I believed in the manager there and in the players - and they recruited very well.

“The Premier League is just so difficult. People think it can be easy because you see Sunderland high up the table; you see Leeds [United] probably just out of the relegation battle. But it's so difficult.

“I feel sorry for a lot of the lads because I still keep in contact with them quite a lot and I know how hard they work. So it's very sad. But I'm definitely sure they'll go back up again next year.”

You worked under Vincent Kompany for two years at Burnley, experiencing promotion to, and then relegation from, the Premier League. He’s now doing amazing at Bayern Munich. What’s your thoughts on his success?

“He's done incredible. We all knew he would. For us, it's not really a surprise him going from Burnley to Bayern Munich. Maybe to a lot of people it is, but when you see his dedication, his knowledge of football, his addiction to being a manager, it’s crazy.

“So, if he didn't make it to the top, I wouldn't really know who's going to make it. You see now Bayern have been dominating pretty much every game.

"And, if he gets over the line in the [UEFA] Champions League [Bayern trail champions Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 after Tuesday’s epic semi-final first league], when he's already won the league there and they're in the cup final, it’s an even more incredible season to be fair.

“But again, I'm not surprised. I can only speak highly of Vincent. Obviously, it was a shame we went down with him, but, like I say, football is very difficult. The Premier League is very difficult. If you don't have the top players, it’s very hard."

As you said, he could end the season with a treble that includes the UEFA Champions League. What it is in particular that makes him such a good manager?

“His work ethic is great. He’s the first one in by a long way and last one to leave. And it's his everyday tactics; he watches every game; he can change formation three, four, five times, and every player knows what they're doing.

“When he first came into Burnley, it was amazing to see. And I'm definitely very happy that I got to play under him.”