Egypt’s Zamalek reveals details of veteran coach’s departure

The details of the departure of al-Zamalek’a coach Hassan Shehata were revealed by the Egyptian football club’s chairman, an Egyptian daily reported on Sunday.

“I was pretty sure that Shehata was capable of bringing success to Zamalek. He is the only manager ever supported with up to LE85 million to fulfill all his needs with the squad," Zamalek Chairman Mamdouk Abbas was quoted as saying by the online edition of al-Ahram.

62-year-old Shehata, the country’s most successful coach, led Egypt to three African Cup of Nations trophies, left the Cairo giant club in July after failing to qualify for the CAF Champions League semifinal.

The one year he spent at Zamalek was not really enough for the coach to accomplish success because the season was cancelled in the wake of Port Said disaster that left over 70 dead, according to the newspaper report.

“After a meeting with Shehata at his home, we agreed that his resignation would be for the good of all parties,” Abbas was quoted as saying.