Zamalek’s Shake-Up: Abdul-Raouf Takes the Reins Before a Crucial Super Cup
1 November 2025
Background and Coaching Change
The Zamalek board, chaired by Hussein Labib, in coordination with sporting director John Edward, appointed Ahmed Abdul-Raouf as technical director of the first team, replacing Belgian Yannick Ferriera who was officially dismissed after a period marked by a clear decline in performance and results.
The decision comes a few days before the team travels to the UAE for the local Super Cup, where Abdul-Raouf is expected to lead the side in this important event, while he will personally select the coaching staff in the hours ahead, signaling a fresh start the club hopes will bring more stability and harmony.
Although the dismissal came amid public anger, the numbers were decisive, with official statistics for the last three foreign coaches in the Egyptian Premier League (Ferrera, Gross, Peseiro) showing the Belgian coach as the weakest technically and the most prone to dropping points.
Coaches’ Performance Snapshot
Ferrera, the least successful: The data shows Ferrera posted the lowest win rate among the trio, at 57.6%, the lowest compared to Swiss Christian Gross and Portuguese Jose Peseiro.
Ferrera led Zamalek for 119 days, the longest tenure among the three, yet length did not translate into better performance, as the team often appeared without a clear attacking identity or tactical flexibility.
In 11 league matches, he collected 19 points from 33 possible, having dropped 14 points, equal to more than a third of the points on offer. This wasteful spell kept the club from the summit and eroded title ambitions.
Although the team scored 15 goals during that period—the same as Gross’s side—the difference lay in efficiency and converting draws into wins, leaving the administration doubtful about his ability to steer the project forward.
Gross… best in harvest and performance: The statistics show Christian Gross was the most successful among the three, albeit over a short spell of 59 days (Dec 16, 2024 to Feb 13, 2025).
He oversaw 9 league matches, with 5 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses; 15 goals scored and 10 conceded, earning 17 points from 27 possible. His win rate stood at 63.0%, the highest among the trio, reflecting swift impact and solid defensive organization.
Peseiro… king of draws without defeats: The Portuguese coach managed 82 days (Feb 14 to May 7, 2025) across 8 league games; no defeats, but 3 wins and 5 draws.
Under his guidance, the team scored 13 goals and conceded 5—the fewest conceded among the three—yet a lack of attacking options late in the pitch cost 10 points.
He collected 14 points from 24 possible (58.3%), placing him second behind Gross but ahead of Ferrera, with defensive stability and tactical calm offset by frequent draws.
The numbers show the decision to part ways with Ferrera was not only a response to fan pressure but a technical assessment of declining results and performances.
During Ferrera’s spell, the team squandered 14 points that could have put it top if four draws had turned into wins or a single loss had been avoided. The board’s report noted his failure to integrate new signings and address the attacking crisis, leaving the attack blunt and disjointed.
The final decision came after a decisive call by vice president Hisham Nasr to inform the Belgian coach of the termination, with thanks for his time in the club.
Thus a new chapter opens in Zamalek’s journey, now led by Ahmed Abdul-Raouf, facing a challenging mission but a real chance to revive the White Knights before the eagerly awaited Super Cup in the UAE.
Punchline 1: If coaching changes were a sport, this league would be the richest transfer market in the world and still not buy a win.
Punchline 2: And if the trophy could talk, it would say: keep the tweets coming—I’ll still be here at full time.
