The Zamalek board of directors, headed by Hussein Labib, held a decisive meeting this evening with Portuguese coach José Peseiro, the former first-team coach of the club, to settle his financial dues after the mutual termination of their contract. The meeting was scheduled for 8:00 PM, where Peseiro was set to meet with his agent at the home of club president Hussein Labib to discuss all the outstanding financial matters between the coach and the club.
This meeting aims to reach a final agreement regarding the coach’s overdue dues, which amount to approximately three months' salary. This step is expected to bring the termination of the contract to a peaceful and fair resolution for both parties. Thus, the relationship between Zamalek and Peseiro will be concluded after a period filled with many fluctuations on the technical level, as the decision to terminate the contract was seen as the best option for the club at this sensitive stage.
On the other hand, the club had previously announced the termination of Peseiro’s contract by mutual consent, following a series of meetings that assessed the team's results in the past period. This period was filled with challenges that affected the team's performance in both local and continental competitions, prompting the Zamalek management to make a decision aimed at restoring the team's technical balance.
The Zamalek management issued an official statement thanking the Portuguese coach and his staff, acknowledging their efforts throughout their tenure. The statement emphasized that the decision was made in the best interest of the team, with the ultimate goal being to achieve success and titles. This decision was a necessary step to ensure the team continues its journey toward achieving its objectives and ambitions in the future.
In preparation for the upcoming phase, Zamalek had started negotiations with Egyptian coach Ayman Al-Ramadi, the former coach of Ceramica Cleopatra, to replace Peseiro in the team's technical leadership. It is expected that the club will soon announce the signing of Al-Ramadi as the new head coach, as the Egyptian coach has a strong record with Ceramica Cleopatra, leading them to impressive results, the latest being a high league standing. Al-Ramadi is also known for his experience in handling strong teams, which boosts his chances of succeeding with Zamalek during this critical period.
Sources close to the club confirm that coach Ayman Al-Ramadi will begin training the team starting today, as all technical and financial details of the contract have been finalized. It is anticipated that the new coach will start his duties at a very crucial time, with Zamalek aiming to restore its technical stability and achieve strong results in upcoming competitions, both locally and internationally.
Meanwhile, the Zamalek board continues to work on selecting a supporting coaching staff for Al-Ramadi, as the club aims to build a cohesive technical team. The challenges the team faces at the moment necessitate the inclusion of distinguished technical experts who can support the new coach in his duties, both in terms of technical management and regular player evaluations.
José Peseiro took charge of Zamalek during a period marked by significant pressures and challenges, following a long stretch of fluctuating results. Despite the distinguished coaching resume of the Portuguese coach, which includes successes with many top clubs, his period with Zamalek did not yield the desired results, prompting the board to decide to end the contract by mutual consent. Under his leadership, the team played 17 matches, achieving 7 wins, 8 draws, and just 2 losses. However, the inconsistency in performance was not sufficient to meet the team's objectives.
The appointment of Ayman Al-Ramadi is expected to significantly change the team's direction in the coming period, as Al-Ramadi possesses a clear vision and a coaching style that reflects a deep understanding of Egyptian football. The successes he achieved with Ceramica Cleopatra demonstrate his ability to maximize available resources and achieve tangible results, making him the ideal choice to lead Zamalek during this critical phase.
Zamalek is currently focused on overcoming the past period and achieving technical stability and positive results in various competitions. The club hopes to see noticeable development under the new coach’s leadership. Zamalek urgently needs to establish technical balance to remain competitive in both local and continental championships, and the appointment of Al-Ramadi is a crucial step in guiding the team back to winning ways.
