Former assistant-coach for the Egyptian team Shawky Gharib could succeed American tactician Bob Bradley as the Pharaohs' new head-coach.

The 55-year old former coach Bradley, who was hired in November 2011, has now come to the end of his spell with Egypt, as his contract expired at the end of the World Cup qualifiers.

Despite beating Ghana 2-1 in Cairo in the African World Cup playoff last week, Egypt failed to end their absence from the World Cup since 1990, as they lost 6-1 in the first-leg in Kumasi.

Gharib, who was announced as the head-coach of coastal club Ismaily last month, was recently linked with the Pharaohs, as Football Association (FA) officials confirmed the new coach would be local.

"I didn't receive any official calls from the FA, but it will be a great pleasure for me to succeed Bradley," Gharib told Reuters on Saturday.

"I only heard that I have been nominated for the job through local media, but I will be the happiest coach if they hire me," he added.

Gharib, 54, managed Egypt when they won the bronze medal at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina.

He was also the assistant to Egypt's senior team manager Hassan Shehata during a highly-successful reign that yielded three Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010.

Under the guidance of Gharib, Egyptian league outfit Smouha finished third in Group A of last season's cancelled league with 27 points, 12 adrift of leaders Ahly.

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