Jose to coach Ahly for the third time
Manuel Jose has become the coach of Ahly for a third stint, the Egyptian champions announced on Saturday, few hours after saying a final decision will be made on Sunday.
The Portuguese takes over from interim coach Abdel-Aziz Abdel-Shafy 'Zizo', who guided the club for five Egyptian Premier League games following the resignation of Hossam El-Badry.
"The football committee has decided to appoint Manuel Jose as the first team's manager on a one-and-a-half year deal," Ahly said in a statement on their official website.
"The club also opened talks with two Portuguese coaches to assist Jose, who will hold a news conference on Thursday to reveal the details of the deal."
Ahly earlier said they held talks with Jose on Saturday but were yet to reach a final agreement with him.
A final decision regarding the matter would be made on Sunday, they added before suddenly announcing that the 64-year-old has officially become the team's new coach.
Jose will manage Ahly for a third spell, having enjoyed two glorious reigns with the Red Devils.
He led them to the 2001 African Champions League title and an earth-shattering 6-1 victory over arch-rivals Zamalek in the Cairo derby but suddenly departed in the summer of 2002.
Ahly brought him back in January 2004 after enduring a barren run and he lived up to expectations to steer them to a host of titles, including five Egyptian Premier League triumphs and three Champions League accolades.
Jose left Ahly in the summer of 2009 after earning a cult status among their faithful, managing Angola's national team at the African Cup of Nations before having another stint, albeit an unsuccessful and brief one, with Saudi giants Ittihad Jeddah.
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