Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco (Photo: Reuters)
Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco has officially resigned from league leaders Zamalek, leaving the club in a critical situation.
"The coach escaped on Thursday, leaving Cairo with his assistant after informing the club in a hand-written letter that his mission with the team had ended," Zamalek board member Ahmed Mortada has been quoted as saying by AFP.
Despite insisting he would continue leading the White Castles, reports of Pacheco's resignation grew following the 2-0 defeat to ENPPI in a top of the table clash after which he argued with the club's board.
"Pacheco made many mistakes during the ENPPI game. I warned him about this match as a viewer and I don't interfere in his work. He doesn't consult the technical staff and he insists on depending on irresponsible players," the club's boss Mansour Mansour told a TV sports programme after ENPPI game.
The 56-year-old tactician, who started his coaching career at Boavista in 1993, has been officially announced as coach of Saudi club Al-Shabab, which he coached for a year, four years ago, the club stated on Thursday.
"Al-Shabab club have signed a contract with Zamalek coach Pacheco to succeed sacked German manager Reinhard Stumpf," Al-Shabab stated on their official Facebook page.
The former Mallorca, Boavista, Vitória Guimarães, Boavista, Belenenses and Beijing Guoan manager joined the Cairo side in October, replacing Hossam Hassan who left after complications with club chairman Mortada Mansour.
He won the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Cup with Saudi Arabia's Al-Shabab in 2009 before taking charge of Beijing Guoan for his last stint before being signed by Zamalek.
Zamalek, who are bidding to win their first Egyptian Premier League title since 2004, are currently league leaders with 34 points from 15 matches, one more than second-place ENPPI, and ten more than title holders Ahly, who have three games in hand. They are scheduled to play powerful Petrojet Saturday in the 16th round.
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