Halim Toulan: A Half-Century Coaching Maestro Aiming to Steer Egypt to Arab Cup Glory
26 November 2025
Career arc: From Zamalek youth to the national stage
Egypt’s national team heads into the Arab Cup in Qatar from December 1 to 18 under the guidance of veteran coach Halim Toulan. With five decades of coaching behind him, Toulan arrives at the tournament hoping to leave a lasting imprint and to chase a title that last belonged to Egypt in 1992, won under Mahmoud El-Johri.
The golden generation and Toulan’s early impact
Toulan’s rise began after stepping away from playing, when he focused on coaching studies and took charge of the youth sector at Zamalek. There he helped polish future stars such as Sayed Abdel Hafiz, Mohamed Aboutrika, Ibrahim Saeed, and others who would shine for the club and country. His strict, disciplined approach quickly made him a recognized name in Egyptian development circles.
From Zamalek to Haras El Hodoud and beyond
Known for turning out players with technical backbone and work ethic, Toulan soon moved into senior management. His first major head‑coach success came with Haras El Hodoud in 2002, where he guided a rising side back toward the upper echelons of the league. His tenure featured memorable moments, including a 5-1 upset victory over Zamalek in 2005-2006, and laid the groundwork for a long coaching arc across Egyptian football.
Over the next four years, Toulan helped strengthen Haras El Hodoud’s competitive edge and led the team to continental exposure for the first time in the club’s history. He then moved through other Egyptian sides—stints with Misr El-Makkasa, Al‑Ahed (Libya’s Al‑Ahli Benghazi period parallel), and the national‑league landscape—always emphasizing structure, discipline, and talent development.
In a subsequent chapter, Toulan produced notable results with Petrojet and later with Enppi and other teams, earning a reputation as a coach who can maximize potential in limited resources and who emphasizes youth and discipline as pillars of success.
The Cup and leadership of the Pharaohs
Returning to a higher‑profile stage, Toulan was invited to join the Egyptian Football Association’s technical committee following the federation’s leadership change. In an unexpected move, he stepped in to lead the Pharaohs in the Arab Cup after the national team's regular staff declined participation in the event. He assembled a capable technical team—led by his longtime deputy Mamdouh Al‑Mohamady with Ahmed Hassan as manager and Essam El Hadrary coaching the goalkeepers—and sought to balance opportunity and results for a squad facing interruptions due to club commitments and a lack of marquee names.
As the Arab Cup unfolds, Toulan’s aim remains clear: implement a pragmatic, disciplined system, build confidence among players, and guide Egypt to a competitive showing on the regional stage, while honoring a half‑century of coaching craft.
Legacy, expectations, and the road ahead
Across his long career, Toulan has become a symbol of persistence and longevity in Egyptian football. The Arab Cup offers him a fresh opportunity to translate decades of experience into tangible results on the international stage, and to add another memorable chapter to a career defined by shaping young talents and steering teams through challenging campaigns.
