After a series of poor results, Ceramica Cleopatra announced early today that it was parting ways with the 59-year-old El Ramadi by mutual consent. Then, it announced that it had hired Maher as their new coach.
“The club board decided to appoint Maher as the team’s new coach in an important step to enhance the performance and achieving goals of next term,” the club said in a statement.
Ceramica Cleopatra didn’t secure a single win in the last five league games, losing three and drawing in two.
The dismissal of El Ramadi comes 48 hours after Saturday’s 2-0 league loss to Gouna.
El Ramadi, who took charge in July 2023, has guided the team through 60 matches, securing 23 wins and 17 draws and losing the remaining 29 games.
His prominent achievement with the team was guiding them to win the Egyptian League Cup title twice in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons.
The team currently lie seventh in the Egyptian Premier League table with 21 points from 15 games, 15 points behind leaders Pyramids FC.
Quick appointment
Maher's appointment comes hours after the Port Said-based Masry announced his departure following the team’s recent struggles.
Masry has recently dropped in form, winning only one of the last five games.
However, it remains fifth in the Egyptian Premier League standings with 24 points, nine behind joint leaders Pyramids FC and Ahly.
Their latest setback was a scoreless draw against relegation-threatened Ismaily on Saturday.
The 51-year-old former Ahly player Maher took over Masry in 2023 for a second stint and propelled the team into the top four, their best position in five years.
Maher, who announced his retirement as a player in 2004, was a coach for several Egyptian premier league clubs, including Al Assiouty, Smouha, Enppi, Masry and Future FC.
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