On Tuesday, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the appointment of Hossam Hassan as the new coach of the national team, following the dismissal of Portuguese Rui Vitoria.
Hassan, who is the all-time leading scorer for Egypt, had expressed his desire to take up the job on several occasions in the past but was overlooked despite his qualifications.
He will now lead the team, with his twin brother Ibrahim Hassan appointed as the team director.
Ibrahim Hassan, a former defender, also played for Egypt and accompanied his brother at various clubs.
Although the EFA had initially stated that they were considering foreign candidates for the role, they swiftly brought in Hassan as a replacement for Vitoria, who was sacked after the Pharaohs’ disappointing exit from the Africa Cup of Nations at the last-16 stage.
Hassan’s appointment comes as no surprise, given his long-standing ambition to take up the role of the national team coach.
However, some critics have expressed concerns about Hassan’s fiery temper, which has gotten him into trouble in the past.
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In 2016, he was briefly remanded in custody for attacking a photographer after a local league game while in charge of Al Masry.
Most recently, he was fined for breaking the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor during a league game in early 2023.
Despite his disciplinary issues, Hassan is known for helping unfancied teams perform above their weight.
He has previously coached several Egyptian clubs, including Cairo giants Zamalek, since he began his coaching career in 2008, several months after retiring from his playing career.
As a player, Hassan enjoyed a decorated career, winning numerous titles with Cairo clubs Al Ahly and Zamalek.
He also led Egypt to three Cup of Nations titles and was the team’s top scorer at the 1990 World Cup.
With 68 goals, he is Egypt’s all-time leading scorer, 14 ahead of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
