Inside Al Ahly President Mahmoud El Khatib’s strategic meeting with coach Jess Thorup

Following his official signing, Al Ahly’s new Danish manager Jess Thorup had a lengthy meeting with club president Mahmoud El Khatib at the club’s headquarters.

According to Kooora, the conversation wasn’t just a formality, it was a deep dive into Al Ahly’s storied history, its massive following, and the immense pressure that comes with leading such a team. Thorup remarked, “The president gave me a wide perspective on Al Ahly’s legacy, its titles, and the expectations here. We even discussed life in Cairo and many other things.”

El Khatib outlined a clear structure for how the football department will operate: Thorup will collaborate directly with the new football director, Walid Salah El-Din, who acts as the link between the coaching staff, the planning committee, and the sporting director. The committee itself will coordinate on all matters, but Thorup retains final say on the technical choices.

Transfer discussions also took a front seat. Khatib assured Thorup that the upcoming winter window would be entirely under his control and asked Walid Salah El-Din to brief him on previous scouting. Thorup also met with his assistants to review the squad for upcoming Champions League games and received medical updates on injured players.

To Al Ahly’s fans, Thorup sent a heartfelt message: “I am here now and can’t wait to meet you. Together, we will achieve great things.”