In the aftermath of the dismissal of Portuguese head coach Rui Vitoria, Egypt has turned to its all-time top scorer, Hossam Hassan, to lead the national football team. The Egyptian Football Association announced the decision on Tuesday, appointing Hossam Hassan after the Pharaohs’ disappointing performance in the Africa Cup of Nations led to Vitoria’s sacking.

Despite Egypt’s illustrious history with a record seven AFCON titles, the team failed to secure a win in the current tournament, ultimately exiting after a loss to DR Congo in the round of 16.

Hossam Hassan, born in Cairo, played a pivotal role in Egypt’s AFCON successes as a forward, contributing to three of the national team’s titles. His prolific goal-scoring record includes 68 goals, making him Egypt’s all-time leading scorer. His playing career predominantly involved Al Ahly, his hometown club, with stints in Greece, Switzerland, and other Egyptian teams before retiring in 2008.

Since his retirement, Hossam Hassan has ventured into coaching, managing various local clubs and the Jordan national team. His aspirations to coach the Egyptian national team are now fulfilled with this appointment.

Joining Hossam Hassan in the coaching setup is his brother, Ibrahim Hassan, a former defender who also represented Egypt. Ibrahim Hassan will assume the role of team director, contributing to the leadership and direction of the national team. The decision to entrust the coaching responsibilities to the Hassan brothers reflects Egypt’s commitment to leveraging the experience and expertise of its football legends in steering the team to future success.