Unproven Al-Ahly assistant Mohamed Youssef has been promoted to head coach of the most successful football team in Africa, officials at the Egyptian club confirmed Wednesday.
Former national team defender Youssef replaces Hossam El-Badry, who quit last weekend after guiding record seven-time title holders Ahly into the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
El-Badry is joining Libyan club Al-Ahly Tripoli on a one-year contract after hinting that a lack of funds to strengthen the squad of the Cairo club was behind his decision.
Youssef, 42, has worked under El-Badry and hyper-successful Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, and confessed to mixed feelings after being given control of a club that has won 16 CAF titles and dozens of domestic honours.
“Working at a great club like Ahly is easy and difficult at the same time. It is easy because you have all the tools for success, but it is difficult because failure is unacceptable,” he said.
Several senior Ahly officials criticised El-Badry on the club website, saying the timing of his departure was “irresponsible and not the act expected of a son of Ahly”.
Ahly will know their three Champions League group opoonents on May 14 with fellow Egyptians Zamalek, Orlando Pirates of South Africa, Esperance of Tunisia, Coton Sport of Cameroon, Sewe San Pedro of Ivory Coast, AC Leopards of Congo and Recreativo Libolo of Angola the other qualifiers.
Youssef succeeds El-Badry as Ahly coach
