CAIRO - Everyone's talking about Egypt's former coach Hassan Shehata being appointed as Zamalek's new coach. The appointment of Shehata as the technical coach of Zamalek - one of Egypt's top two clubs - will be his biggest challenge in a long career as a player and coach. Zamalek's (The White Knights) supporters are obviously hoping that Shehata will put an end to Al-Ahly's incredible domination in all competitions in recent years. A few weeks ago, Al-Ahly (The Red Devils) grabbed the Egyptian Premier League title for the seventh time in a row and the 36th time in their history. Zamalek last won the league title in 2004. Since then, their only prize has been the Egyptian Cup, in 2008. Shehata has been chosen as the coach of the White Knights in a bid to end their long losing streak. His vast experience will certainly help. Shehata, 64, replaces Hossam Hassan who was sacked when Zamalek finished second to the Red Devils this season. He won't have the luxury of buying new players, as Zamalek are deep in debt. Shehata's relationship with the players will be another tough test. Although he has been one of Zamalek's greatest assets over the years, his relationship with key players such as Shikaballa has not been very good. The coach has accused ‘Shika' on more than one occasion of not wanting to play for the national team. Other big names in Zamalek include Ahmed Hossam 'Mido', Amr Zaki and goalkeeper Abdel Wahed el-Sayyed. Before the Pharaohs clashed with Sierra Leone in the opening game of the 2012 African Cup of Nations (ACN) qualifiers, Shehata publicly denounced the Zamalek duo Amr Zaki and Shikaballa. He accused the pair of faking injuries in order to avoid national team duty. Shehata's relationship with Zamalek fans is not ideal for many reasons. Nor has Shehata's dispute with ‘Mido' endeared him to the Zamalek fans. Shehata was the national team head coach from 2004 to 2011. He resigned last June following the 0-0 draw against South Africa in the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier, which virtually spelt an end to the Pharaohs' ACN campaign. Many Egyptian coaches and football experts blamed Shehata for Egypt almost certainly failing to reach the 2012 ACN, the first time the Pharaohs have failed to qualify for this biannual tournament since 1978. Egypt's chances of qualifying for the 2012 ACN are basically nil, as the team remain at the bottom of Group G and would need to win the next two games, if one assumes South Africa lose against Niger and then Sierra Leone in the same group. Zamalek will pay Shehata $40,000 per month. "I cannot refuse to coach a club with which I have spent many years and where I made my name," Shehata said when the club announced the appointment. "I have refused several offers from abroad. It is my wish to work in Egypt, particularly since there are reasons for my not working abroad. I will try and make the Zamalek fans' dream of a trophy come true." Zamalek's new technical staff include Ismail Youssef as general coach, Osama Nabih as assistant coach and Ahmed Soleiman as goalkeepers' coach. Shehata is considered the best manager in the history of Egyptian and African football. He has achieved so much as a player and coach. He led the national team to three successive ACN titles: in Egypt in 2006, Ghana in 2008 and Angola in 2010. Although there have been problems, Shehata's appointment is a boon for the White Knights. In fact, he does get on well with many of the players, which could be a reason for their hiring him, despite the club's financial problems. Zamalek's former star Hani Saeed, who signed for Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry (MCDR) Club, is now thinking seriously about returning, while Amr Zaki has decided to stay, although he was about to leave. The players who might join the White Knights in the near future include Egypt's captain Ahmed Hassan, Ismaili star Hosni Abd Rabo and key Haras el-Hodoud player Ahmed Eid Abdel-Malek. Shehata said that he wanted to avoid the fate of his predecessor Hossam Hassan, under whom Zamalek stumbled in the Premier League in the latter stages of last season. Zamalek President Galal Ibrahim said the club's financial crisis is actually over. Al-Ahram Agency for Advertising recently won the rights to sponsor Zamalek for one season for LE25 million ($4.2m). "This contract will fill the club's coffers and end the financial crisis," Ibrahim said, adding that the club will pay the players' salaries and buy new players. Meanwhile, Hossam Hassan said that he had to learn from the media that the club's board had not renewed his contract, adding that the board didn't support him, as they did not provide him with the players he asked for. "I have put Zamalek on the right track for winning silverware in future," Hassan told CNN, adding that Shehata would reap the fruits of all his hard work. According to media reports, Shehata has decided to sack 11 players including defender Mohamed Yunis, right-back Ahmed Ghanem Sultan, and playmaker Wagih Abdel-Azim, as well as three foreign players. Shehata has also asked the board to contract Mohamed Naguib, Ahmed Hassan, Hosni Abd-Rabo, Ahmed Raouf and Ahmed Ali. "Hassan Shehata is a great coach. His amazing achievements with the Pharaohs will make him a huge asset in the Egyptian Premier League. He is very ambitions and not afraid of losing," Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose told the private Egyptian channel CBC in an interview last week. Appointing Shehata will not only technically strengthen the White Knights, but also bring peace with their arch-rivals Al-Ahly. There has been much tension between Egypt's two biggest clubs in the past few months. As coach for the national team, Shehata acted as a recruiter. Can he discover new stars for the Whites capable of ending the Reds' monopoly of the Egyptian titles? Shehata in brief: • Born on June 19, 1947 in Kafr el-Dawar, Beheira Governorate, Nile Delta. • Joined Zamalek in 1966, at the age of 19. He played for the White Knights from 1967-1968 and 1971-1983, but the demise of football in Egypt after the June 1967 war led to him to move to the Kuwaiti Kazma Club from 1968-1971. Then, he played for the Kuwaiti Al-Arabi Club during the Asian Clubs Cup. • Came back to Zamalek in 1971 and played until his retirement in 1983. • Played for the Egyptian national team from 1972-1980. • Participated in the Egyptian national team in 3 African Cup of Nations tournaments: Egypt in 1974, Ghana in 1978 and Nigeria in 1980. Goal scoring statistics: • Scored 10 goals for Egypt in the African Cups of Nations. • Scored 22 goals for Zamalek in Africa Club Cups. • Scored 88 goals for Zamalek in the Egyptian League (twice top scorer). • Scored 22 goals for Zamalek in the Egyptian Cup. Honours as Egypt coach: • Champion of the Nile Basin Tournament 2011. • Champion of the African Cup of Nations in 2010. • Champion of the African Cup of Nations in 2008. • Champion of the African Cup of Nations in 2006. • Champion of the African Youth Cup of Nations in 2003. • Egyptian youth team qualified for World Cup U-20.
