Mohamed Salah and Egypt could have former Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre as their new boss

Sport360 staff 19:44 26/07/2018
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  • Javier Aguirre coached Al Wahda from 2015-17.

    One former Arabian Gulf League manager is believed to be the frontrunner to replace Hector Cuper as Egypt coach, while another who led his team to the final of the World Cup is believed to have been discarded as an option.

    Former Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre is believed to be the Egyptian Football Association’s (EFA) first choice to replace experienced Argentine Cuper, a former Valencia and Inter Milan head coach, who led the Pharaohs for three years, stepping down after this summer’s World Cup.

    It was Egypt’s first finals appearance since 1990 but Liverpool livewire Mohamed Salah could not inspire his side to glory as they lost all three matches against Uruguay, Russia and Saudi Arabia to exit at the group stage.

    Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was also believed to be in the running, but the EFA said a brief pursuit was quickly called off over money.

    Mexican Aguirre, 59, took his nation to the second round at the 2010 World Cup and led them to a CONCACAF Gold Cup triumph in 2009.

    He also managed Japan from 2014-15 and was in charge of Atletico Madrid from 2006-09.

    His most recent appointment was with the Clarets in the UAE from 2015-17, winning the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf Cup and the 2017 President’s Cup.

    Zlatko Dalic went from being sacked by Al Ain to coaching in the World Cup final.

    Zlatko Dalic went from being sacked by Al Ain to coaching in the World Cup final.

    “Aguirre is ready to come to Egypt to negotiate with the federation,” federation member, Magdi Abdel-Ghani, told Filgoal.com.

    “However, we are still in negotiations with three other candidates, Vahid Halilhodzic, Jorge Luis Pinto and Quique Sanchez Flores.

    “The four candidates are coming from different football cultures but each of them has his unique experience.

    As ex-Wahda coach Aguirre heads the EFA’s shortlist, one man who doesn’t appear to be in the running to replace Cuper is Croatia coach Dalic – who was in charge of AGL side Al Ain from 2014 to 2017.

    The EFA dismissed reports linking the vacant national team head coach position to Dalic as unrealistic.

    Dalic heroically led Croatia to the final in Russia only to be denied the title by a 4-2 defeat at the hands of France in Moscow. As well as the results, Dalic and his team won plaudits for their style of play.

    Reports in Cairo and Croatia have suggested the EFA were preparing a move for the 51-year-old, who is yet to commit his future to the Vatreni, the post he only took in October last year, nine months after being sacked by the Boss.

    “Of course we would be interested in Dalic if there was a chance,” an EFA official told Arab News.

    Mohamed Salah and Egypt endured a poor World Cup.

    Mohamed Salah and Egypt endured a poor World Cup.

    “Everyone saw the job he did at the World Cup and Croatia were the opposite of Egypt, they played with adventure, skill and spirit. However, it was never a realistic option for us.

    “Cuper’s salary was already very high but it would be nothing compared to what we would need in order to attract Dalic. It was never going to happen. Even if we could afford him, he is now in demand and if he decides to look for a new job then he will get plenty of offers from Europe.”

    Cuper was reportedly the highest paid national team coach in Africa before his departure, receiving an annual sum of around €1.5 million. According to Croatian media, should Dalic decide to leave his post, he will be looking for a salary well in excess of that.

    “Like it or not, I am the second best coach in the world,” Dalic told Croatian newspaper Vecernji list in an interview earlier this week.

    “And this figure of $5 million per year for the second coach of the world is too small.”

    Dalic may be off the table but the EFA, with qualification for the 2019 African Cup of Nations continuing in September, has confirmed they are looking for a foreign coach.

    Hector Cuper led Egypt to a first World Cup in 28 years.

    Hector Cuper led Egypt to a first World Cup in 28 years.

    Halilhodzic, Aguirre’s successor with Japan in 2015, has been heavily linked with a return to Algeria, a team he led to the second round of the 2014 World Cup.

    He qualified the Samurai Blue for the 2018 tournament, only to be fired two months before it kicked off after poor results and reports of player unrest.

    Also in the mix is Flores, a former Atletico Madrid and Watford coach.

    Pinto has plenty of experience, with spells in charge of Colombia, Costa Rica and Honduras, but has not coached in the Middle East.

    As for Cuper, the 62-year-old is rumoured to be close to being announced as new coach of Uzbekistan as the Central Asians prepare for the 2019 Asian Cup in the UAE in January.

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