CAIRO: Former United States national football team manager Bob Bradley could be Egypt's next coach, according to MLSSoccer.com. Egypt's al-Ahram newspaper reported on Sunday that Bradley would interview for the position and is currently the top choice to take over the Pharaohs after former manager Hassan Shehata was ousted after a dismal African Cup of Nations qualification campaign that has seen Egypt in a position that will likely see them miss out on defending their title next year. Former Montenegro manager Zoran Filipović and former Trinidad and Tobago coach Francisco Maturana are also in the running for the job. “The president of the federation will meet with the coach this week,” Egypt's national team press officer Azmi Megahed told MLSsoccer.com on Monday. “He is maybe the top contender.” The spokesman revealed that the federation had been impressed with Bradley since his US side topped Egypt 3-0 in a do-or-die final group match at the 2009 Confederations Cup. Should Bradley take the Egypt job, he would become the first American-born coach to lead a foreign national team since Steve Sampson managed Costa Rica from 2002-2004. After the Pharaohs made a slow start to 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying this spring, longtime manager Hassan Shehata handed in his resignation. The seven-time African champs — including the last three — are currently at the bottom of Group G with two points from four matches. Still on their schedule are an away match against Sierra Leone in early September and then a home match against Niger in early October. Despite the poor campaign, Egypt could still possibly qualify for the tournament, which will be held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. BM
