CAIRO: In what is quickly becoming a parade of potential coaches to lead the Zamalek club, French manager Henri Michel will be in Cairo today to open talks with the beleaguered team. Zamalek general manager Alaa Mekled said on Sunday that the club contacted Michel after ensuring they can afford the signing fees. Michel is the most recent name to surface as candidate for Zamalek s vacant managerial post after sacking Portuguese coach Manuel Cajuda last week. The 59-year-old coach has steered Tunisia, Morocco, Cameroon and Ivory Coast to the World Cup over the past 15 years. He has been without a job since October when he was sacked by Qatari club Arabi after just six games into the season. Zoran Filipovic is also a strong nominee after the Serbian coach attended Zamalek s training on Saturday s night. He is set to meet with the board of directors later on Sunday. Mahmoud Saad is currently a caretaker coach but he will be relegated to assistant coach after the team gets a high-profile manager. Saad will be in charge of the team during the Harras Al-Hodoud league game and the Cairo derby against Ahly on Saturday. Meanwhile, with anticipation running high on the heels of Ahly's above average showing at the Club World Cup tournament in Japan, Saturday's game for Zamalek will be a chance for the side to win back the favors of disgruntled fans. Zamalek defender Ibrahim Saied, who is currently on trial at Premiership side Sheffield United, said he is ready to play in the Cairo derby on Saturday should caretaker manager Mahmoud Saad calls him up for the game. I am prepared to take part against Ahly, Saied said on Saturday night. If the coaching staff decided they want me, I will play, added Saied from England. Zamalek are short in defense as starting defender Amr Al-Safti is banned for two games while Mahmoud Mahmoud and Tamer Abdul-Wahab failed to impress recently. The international center-back fell out with former manager Manuel Cajuda and said earlier in December he wants to leave Zamalek during the winter transfer window. Saied, 27, reiterated his desire and said he is set for a switch to Europe even if Sheffield s move fell through. I believe I was good enough during the trial but even if the deal wasn t completed, I already have a Turkish offer, he said. Saied and Ismaili right-back Ahmed Fathi, have been in England since last week. Both hope they can win the admiration of Sheffield manager Neil Warnock, who put eight players on the transfer list in January.
