Patience is no longer fundamental for Egyptian clubs after a coaching merry-go-round saw six managers relieved of their duties after just three Premier League games. Stuttering displays and poor results prompted Zamalek, Ismaili, Masri, Ghazl Mahalla, ENPPI and Ittihad to dismiss their coaches. Standing by those tacticians and giving them another chance was never an option for the success-starved teams. "This is not a good habit," Al-Ahram analyst Mohamed Seif commented. "Sometimes coaches are not to blame for bad results. Absences due to injuries and suspensions, incompatibility and poor response from the players can affect performances." The majority of Egyptian clubs demand immediate impact from the new boss and can hardly accept any early stumbles. Chairmen and board members always keep one eye on the press, fearing that knives will be sharpened for them once their teams fall. "I was sacked because the board failed to bear pressure from fans and media," Taha Basri, who was shown the door by Ittihad, said. Several renowned managers criticized such policy, which they believe takes its toll on clubs rather than bettering their displays.
Basri bids farewell to Ittihad The huge success of Alex Ferguson, who has been managing Manchester United since 1986, and Arsene Wenger, who took over at Arsenal in 1996, is always cited an example of how stability can be fruitful. "England is a paradise for the coaches who can plan for the future without the pressure of winning in the short term," current Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho, who coached English side Chelsea from 2004 to 2007, said last April. "Wenger works in tranquility. Arsenal haven't won a title in four years but he continues his fantastic work with young players." No Time A new coach should be able to turn around his team's fortunes in no time, according to the system of most of the Egyptian Premier League clubs. Serbian Nebojsa Vuckovic was appointed as Ismaili coach in the summer in a bid to help them win their first league title in 2002 after finishing runners-up to bitter rivals Ahli last season. He tried to implement a 4-4-2 formation, which is unfamiliar to Egyptian football, instead of the traditional 3-5-2. The Dervishes committed numerous defensive errors to draw 2-2 at promoted Mansoura in the opener before losing 3-2 to ENPPI. Vuckovic believed his players just needed time to get used to the new formation but the club did not agree.
Decastel dismissed "The board put pressure on me to change the strategy of playing," the 60-year-old told FilGoal.com. "I wanted to develop the level of performance of the players by using a 4-4-2 formation. "But I had to quit because I can't change the way of playing only for the board's sake." Swiss Michel Decastel was named Zamalek boss in the second half of last season at a time when the team faced the unthinkable prospect of being relegated to the second division. He was widely acclaimed for promoting several youngsters, who went on to become integral members of Zamalek squad, to the first team. He helped the Cairo giants to a sixth-place finish. Zamalek bolstered their squad in the close season with some high-profile signings, including Middlesbrough striker Mido and former Ahli midfielder Hassan Mostafa, and the new arrivals explicably needed time to blend into the team. Decastel was sacked after the White Knights claimed just four points from three games. The 53-year-old, like Vuckovic, was not granted time.
