Published Date: 2025-05-11 10:59:47 Updated At: 2025-05-11 11:16:12

Former Zamalek SC president Mamdouh Abbas has announced the arrival of English coach Tony Pulis in Egypt, marking a significant step toward his potential appointment as the club’s sporting director. The visit was coordinated by Ahmed Hossam “Mido,” a member of Zamalek’s planning committee, who is actively pushing for Pulis’s appointment in the near future.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Abbas confirmed that Pulis, who boasts extensive Premier League experience, visited Zamalek and was also set to meet with Abbas personally. He described Pulis as one of the most prominent coaches in English football history, having managed top clubs such as Stoke City and Crystal Palace, and praised his contributions to the Premier League. Abbas added, “The purpose of Pulis’s visit is to study Zamalek’s football infrastructure and assess the potential for development in line with international standards.”

Abbas expressed hopes for a successful visit and stressed the importance of transparency in presenting the club’s realities to Pulis. He also thanked Mido for organizing the visit, noting that the former player was instrumental in handling all related arrangements.

This visit comes at a critical time for Zamalek, as the club seeks to revamp and improve its sports sector amid various challenges. Mido believes Pulis is the ideal candidate for the role due to his vast experience in building modern sports systems and managing English football clubs. He also envisions Pulis playing a key role in enhancing Zamalek’s football staff and youth academy infrastructure.

A formal proposal to appoint Pulis as sporting director is expected to be submitted by Mido to Zamalek’s board of directors in the coming hours. Abbas is reportedly willing to cover the coach’s stay in Egypt and his salary, as part of pre-arranged agreements.

Zamalek is preparing for what could be a transformative phase in the club’s football operations, with a clear push to modernize administrative and technical strategies to elevate the team’s competitive edge. Abbas, known for his international sports connections, is one of the main supporters of this direction.

Early signs suggest Zamalek is entering a new era of strategic development, especially in football management. Mido and the planning committee are determined to achieve measurable results that restore the club’s trajectory and competitiveness. The board also sees this collaboration as a valuable opportunity to boost the team’s performance.

Tony Pulis, despite facing tough periods at some clubs, brings a wealth of experience and a strategic vision for long-term success. His expected responsibilities at Zamalek would include overseeing training programs, improving coordination between technical staff and players, managing player recruitment, and enhancing the club’s youth academy system.

A major focus of Pulis’s role would likely be the development of Zamalek’s youth academies, considered a key foundation for the club’s football future. Drawing on his experience with youth systems in England, Pulis could provide valuable insights into building a sustainable talent pipeline for the first team.

The anticipated appointment of Tony Pulis as sporting director is part of a broader long-term strategy aimed at achieving technical and administrative stability at Zamalek. The club hopes these changes will pave the way for a strong return to domestic and regional championships.