It’s Not Just the Coach; Al Ahly’s Management Failed

By: Dr. Hamada El-Antably

Al Ahly Club fans experienced a sorrowful night following the 0-2 defeat against Pyramids. Consequently, discussions ignited across social media platforms and television programs among fans, experts, and analysts, with everyone attempting to pinpoint the culprit: Was it the coach? Were it the players?

Undoubtedly, the coach is part of the problem, and so are the players. However, in my view, the greater responsibility rests upon the shoulders of the club’s management and the planning committee led by Captain Mahmoud El Khatib.

A Flaw in Team Building

Management erred when it relied on recruiting first-tier players locally and regionally, yet in overlapping positions and with repetitive roles. This congestion left the coach torn between who should start and who should sit on the bench. This coincided with the coach’s weak personality and lack of resourcefulness, leading him to deploy most of them while scattering their roles. The result was evident offensive chaos, countered by extreme vulnerability in the center of defense and the flanks, creating a massive technical gap in the team’s composition.

The Foreign Signings File

Al Ahly’s crisis did not stop at local players; rather, it extended to the file of foreign players. How many foreign players have arrived at the Red Castle as stars in their previous clubs, only to lose their sparkle once inside Al Ahly! To manage the situation, the management resorted to loans or mutually terminating contracts, which cost the club heavy financial and technical losses. Nevertheless, the club’s revenues covered these errors and prevented them from surfacing flagrantly before the fans. Examples are numerous and known to friend and foe alike; among the most prominent examples of foreign signing crises is the case of former coach Marcel Koller, which burdened the club’s treasury with exorbitant sums despite temporary successes.

A Losing Gamble on Coaches

The current coach was merely a new gamble lost by management, much like their previous gamble with coach Soares. Here, the question raises itself: What are the criteria for selecting a coach at Al Ahly? Is selection carried out according to a studied project, or based on personal convictions?

In our era, no major club chooses its coach by intuition or emotion. There are CVs, playing styles, and psychological and personal traits—all of which must align with the club’s identity and needs. Al Ahly, with its history, fan base, and passion for championships, cannot afford mistaken experiments or unstudied adventures.

Repeated Errors

Al Ahly’s management erred across multiple fronts, in my view. First, by choosing flashy names instead of focusing on the team’s true needs. Second, by mismanaging the foreign signings file. Third, by negatively impacting team chemistry—famously known in the media as the “dressing room”—by creating massive gaps in player contracts. Lastly, by hiring a technical manager who lacks what is necessary to match the ambitions of the club or the personality of its fans and players.

A Prescription for Rescue

Moving past mere theorizing, and in my humble opinion, for Al Ahly to regain its standing and return to the correct path, management must act with a clear plan based on several fundamental axes:

Restructuring the Signings File: Precisely identifying the team’s needs instead of chasing flashy names, while setting a clear spending ceiling to achieve fairness among players and prevent financial inflation.

Reforming the Foreign Players File: Selecting players according to strict technical and personal criteria suited to the nature of the Egyptian League and the pressures of playing for Al Ahly. This includes establishing a specialized technical committee to continuously monitor the performance of foreign players to ensure maximum benefit, much like traditional scouts back in the golden age of discovery and exploration, which has now become remarkably accessible.

Establishing Scientific Criteria for Selecting Coaches: Adopting an integrated evaluation model that includes playing style, star management capability, tactical competence, and leadership personality, while focusing on involving independent experts in the evaluation process so decisions do not remain bound to individual conviction.

Investing in the Youth Academy: Pumping more resources exclusively into the youth sector. The state of youth sectors in the club—and across all Egyptian clubs—leaves much to be desired, requiring serious articles and robust governance, alongside giving standout youth players a genuine opportunity to break into the first team. Historically, this policy proved successful and produced top-tier stars.

Building a Strong Technical Management: The planning committee must incorporate diverse technical expertise (former players + performance analysts + sports management experts) so that decisions are collective and built upon a comprehensive vision.

Final Word

Al Ahly is bigger than any individual and greater than any name, no matter who they are. What is required of management now is to swiftly reorganize its papers and make decisions based on precise scientific principles that account for all technical, personal, and psychological aspects of both the coach and the players.

Al Ahly first and foremost.

By Dr. Hamada El-Antably