Egyptian Football Association (EFA) officials are split on who to hire as the Pharaohs’ new manager.
“Age matters in deciding the next coach. We want to sign the new coach for four years. So far, the association is leaning towards picking a foreigner,” EFA board member Ahmed Megahed told local radio on Sunday.
Megahed’s sentiments echo previous statements made by EFA officials, who said they prefer the next manager to be a younger foreigner.
The EFA’s Khaled Lateef, however, had the opposite opinion during an interview on local television Saturday, suggesting he wouldn’t mind a local manager who’s also on the older side.
“I honestly see the upcoming era as the national coach time. The Egyptian coach really feels the hopes, ambitions and dreams of the people, especially in big events like the World Cup,” he said.
Lateef specifically mentioned former Ahly manager Hossam El-Badry, Masry coach Hossam Hassan, and legendary national team manager Hassan Shehata.
Shehata has not coached since 2016 and would be 75 by the next World Cup in 2022.
Megahed said the EFA will meet this week to finalize a shortlist of managers being considered.
Egypt’s coaching search is being led by former international Hazem Emam, but the final decision is said to be made as a group.
We recently profiled a list of managers that were linked to the Egypt post by local media.
Of those mentioned, only Vahid Halilhodžić, Martin van Marwijk, and Luiz Felipe Scolari are still available after Iran coach Carlos Queiroz rejected Egypt’s overtures.
We had hoped the EFA would think outside the box and consider these names as well.
If we had to guess, five names will be shortlisted this week and will include a mix of foreign and local managers.
It may look something like this: Vahid Halilhodžić, Martin van Marwijk, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Hossam Hassan, and Hossam El-Badry.
Keep in mind that in 2015, none of the five names shortlisted ended up getting the job. They were: Hervé Renard, Uli Stielike, Frank Rijkaard, Alain Giresse, and Georges Leekens.
The EFA went with Héctor Cúper instead in what was a shock announcement.
Pharaohs XI 
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