For the third and perhaps last time, takes the reins of Ahli. Ahmed Morsy sees the task ahead for the Portuguese football coach "The good son returns home," Ahli coach initially said after signing a one-and-a-half year contract with Ahli, referring to the Portuguese proverb that people always return where they belong. The Portuguese manager officially took charge of Ahli for the third time on Saturday after penning a contract estimated at 80,000 euros a month. Jose takes over from Abdel-Aziz Abdel-Shafi who was appointed interim coach late in November, replacing Hossam El-Badri who stepped down the same month. El-Badri, a former assistant to Jose, resigned after he was roundly blamed for the team's below par displays on all fronts over the past several months. In an interview with Ahli's satellite channel, Jose stressed the mutual admiration between Ahli fans and himself which he said was one of the main factors behind his return. "I had three offers, but I came to Ahli with my heart since the club gave me the best years of my life as a coach. And I have no words to express how grateful I am to Ahli supporters," Jose said. "I feel that the club needs me and the idea is to prepare for the future of the club. The future must be brilliant like it was before," he added. "My salary is less than 50 per cent than what I used to make in Saudi Arabia with Ittihad, but I want to end my career here. I have two or three years left then I'll retire. Hence, my idea is to finish my career here in the place where I'm very happy." Jose admitted that he might be older but stressed that his mind was still the same. He said his mission was to renew the team "in order to win any competition that they play in." "The old players with Ahli need only love since they did a fantastic job for the club. The pressure, in general, must be a bit down because Zizo (Abdel-Shafei) and El-Badri tried to introduce young players who should easily grow quickly without pressure on them. "On the other hand, we must be patient with the old players as well as the young ones. I know that in reality it's not easy but we will try." He added that the veterans will also help a lot in "translating" his thoughts and feelings to the younger players "because this is very important." According to Jose, "the fans need to put their confidence in all the players and be patient with the old and young ones." However, he stressed that Ahli need players with character because wearing the club's shirt "is a big responsibility since the club is 103 years old." He said he believed Ahli needed players around the age of 26 or 27 "when experience starts to take effect. "I am coming here and Zamalek are six points clear of the league table. OK, I'm going to say to the other clubs, 'guard Shikabala and it's going to be easier for us,'" Jose said half- jokingly. Zamalek are on top of the league table with 31 points, six ahead of defending champions Ahli who are in fourth place. Shikabala, the 24-year-old Zamalek playmaker, is currently the league's leading scorer with nine goals after his dazzling performances during the first half of the season which helped Zamalek take the league lead after years of finishing a bridesmaid. "After the last match, the draw (Ahli 0 Zamalek 0) they (Zamalek) convinced themselves that they've won the league. So, we have nothing to lose. The responsibility is on Zamalek," Jose emphasised. "We shall start rebuilding the team. We must not forget that we have the entire second round to play and we want to win the league again." During Jose's previous tenures in the past decade, Ahli rejoiced in a blaze of glory and record-breaking triumphs domestically and continently. The former Benfica manager left the six-time African champions at the end of the 2008-2009 season to take charge of Angola, before moving to Ittihad Jeddah. Jose first became head coach of Ahli in 2001-2002. During his career with Ahli, Jose claimed four CAF Champions League titles, in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2008 as well as four African Super Cup trophies. He led the team to five domestic league titles, in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. With Jose at the helm, Ahli won four Egyptian Super Cups and two Egyptian Cups in 2006 and 2007. Ahli also captured third place in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in 2006.
