Coach Ahmed Hossam 'Mido' (Photo: Bassam Al-Zoghby)
Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour has revealed that Ahmed Hossam "Mido" is the main candidate to replace Portuguese tactician Jesualdo Ferreira at the end of the season.
The 68-year-old Portuguese coach Ferreira is to announce his retirement from football soon, leaving the Whites in search of a new coach.
"When Ferreira leaves, Mido will replace him in leading the team," Mansour told a television programme late Friday.
The young coach Mido, who joined a host of European clubs in his playing career, including English side Tottenham Hotspur and French outfit Marseille, was sacked a few days after Zamalek failed to reach the African Champions League semis last season.
Under Mido, the White Knights failed to end a 10-year league drought after finishing third behind winners and arch-rivals Ahly and Alexandria side Smouha last season.
After his amicable departure from the senior team leading last season, Mido took the lead of Zamalek's youth sector.
"Football director Ismail Youssef will stay in his post, and Sami El-Shesheny and Tarek Moustafa will assist Mido in the technical staff," Mansour added.
Ferreira was appointed Zamalek coach in February following the shock departure of compatriot Jaime Pacheco who got into an acrimonious spat with Mansour.
Ferreira's contract with Zamalek is set to run until the end of this season with an option to extend it for another season.
He has kept Zamalek's lead of the Egyptian Premier League team table without losing a game since his arrival last winter.
Zamalek are leading the domestic table with 63 points, three over runners-up ENPPI and eight over arch-rivals and third placed Ahly. Zamalek is also competing the CAF Confederation Cup this season.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: