Al Ahly’s new manager Hossam El-Badry press conference | VIDEO
Hossam El-Badry was unveiled as Ahly’s new coach on Saturday, though no contract has yet been signed, with El-Badry saying “I have not put any conditions as I consider Ahly my home.”
“I am happy to return to Ahly. Losing the Egypt Cup and Champions League were a source of sorrow recently, but I am lucky to return here for the third time,” El-Badry said in a press conference at the club.
On Thursday, El-Badry was named as Ahly’s new coach for a third stint after the departure of Dutch coach Martin Jol.
The 56-year-old incurred the wrath of Ahly’s demanding fans when he suddenly stepped down more than three years ago to take over at Libya’s Ahly Tripoli, though he had been rumoured to return to the Red Devils more than once over the past couple of years.
Though some fans objected to his return, the club’s board of directors settled on appointing him at the helm following the resignation of Dutchman Martin Jol, who said he had received death threats following Ahly’s surprise elimination from the CAF Champions League group stage earlier this month.
“My [previous] departure from Ahly was by mutual agreement with the management, not an escape,” El-Badry said.
Watch the full press conference (Arabic)
“Every time I take charge at Ahly is different from the previous one, but the fans always remain the same and they make Ahly unique.
“My focus now is to please the fans who will also play a vital role with the team in the coming period,” the coach added.
However, El-Badry’s most recent managerial spell, in charge of the national U-23 side, was not successful, as U-23 failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics. They finished at the bottom of their group in the African Nations Cup last year.
He will still be remembered, however, for steering Ahly to the Egyptian Premier League title in 2010 and the prestigious African Champions League crown in 2012 in two spells. He was also the assistant to the team’s iconic coach Manuel Jose during a highly successful reign in the mid and late 2000s.
“All players, the veterans and youth, are equal. I ask them only to deliver their best to book a place in the team,” said El-Badry.
“The current squad is capable of securing titles and achieving fans’ expectations, but we could send any of our players out on loan this summer.
“We have a strong defence line. Some people say we have defensive problems, but those defenders achieved a lot of titles. I will work to strengthen the whole squad, not only the defence,” the coach concluded.
