Zamalek coach to determine own fate, three foreign successors on radar: Chairman

Eslam Omar , Monday 2 Jan 2017

Mohamed Helmy
Zamalek's outgoing coach Mohamed Helmi (Ahram)

Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour will hold a meeting with coach Mohamed Helmi Monday to decide his future with the club, naming three foreign candidates, in case he wants to leave.

"I will meet with Helmy Monday and it's up to him to decide if he wants to stay or not, especially as I noticed he doesn't feel well or happy," Mansour told an Egyptian television program late Sunday.

Under Helmi, who became Zamalek coach only a few weeks ago, the Whites lost an important Cairo derby against arch-rivals Ahly 2-0 in the last match-day of the Egyptian Premier League's first round.

"We have already started communications with three foreign coaches just in case Helmi showed desire to leave his post; Patrice Carteron, Marius Sumudica and Jose Romao," Mansour revealed.

"We will not pay in foreign currency. The club will not pay more than 450,000 Egyptian pounds [around $25,000]," Mansour said.

With two games in hand, Zamalek are third in the table with 34 points, 11 behind leaders Ahly who led the table.

Meet the candidates

Patrice Carteron

Patrice Carteron
Patrice Carteron (Reuters)

Frenchman Patrice Carteron is the former Wadi Degla coach who has a good experience in African football. Four years after he started his coaching career in France in 2008 leading AS Cannes and Dijon FCO, Carteron coached Mali for one year; 2012\2013, before he led DR Congo's TP Mazembe for two years.

Marius Sumudica

Marius Sumudica
Marius Sumudica (Reuters)

Marius Sumudica is a Romanian coach who started coaching in 2006 with Rocar București before leading a series of other clubs. His latest accomplishment is the Liga I title with Astra Giurgiu last season. He also had a spell with UAE's Al-Shaab in 2012\2013.

Jose Romao

Jose Romao
Jose Romao (AFP)

Portuguese Jose Romao is an expert in the Middle East's countries football who led many Arab teams including Morocco's Wydad Casablanca, Raja Casablanca and FAR Rabat, Kuwait's Al-Arabi and Al-Kuwait.

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