Zamalek’s Coaching Crossroads: Tariq Mustafa or Khaled Galal as the White Knights Seek a New Leader

Zamalek intensifies the hunt for its new head coach

The management of Zamalek has stepped up efforts to appoint a fresh technical director after the departure of Ahmed Abdel-Roof, with a reliable source confirming serious negotiations with Tariq Mustafa to take charge in the upcoming period.

This move follows the administrator’s decision to seek a coach who brings broad experience and the ability to cope with the pressures of the current phase.

Mustafa’s name sits atop the shortlist just hours after Libyan club Al Ahli Benghazi announced his dismissal, a decision fueled by disappointing early results in the Libyan league, where the team managed only two draws against Anwar and Hilal in the first two rounds.

The 54-year-old took charge of the Libyan side in September, but outcomes did not meet his ambitions during that brief stint.

Mustafa’s CV reads like a tour through multiple leagues: he has coached Al Fujairah in the UAE, and left his mark in Morocco with Rapide Oued Zem, Olympique Safi, and Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi, along with a successful domestic spell with Al Ahli Bank.

Sources also indicate that Khaled Galal, the former Zamalek manager, is among the coaches under consideration as part of the White Knights’ ongoing evaluation.

As the club weighs options, the decision will hinge on a blend of international experience and familiarity with the club’s expectations and style of play. The search underscores Zamalek’s intent to secure a coach capable of delivering results under pressure while aligning with the club’s identity and ambitions.

Humor break: In Zamalek’s book, finding a coach is like sniper practice—one precise shot, and then you hope the crowd doesn’t ask for a refund. Punchline incoming: if this process had a loading screen, it would say, “ coaching… 99% confidence, 1% budget.”