Zamalek set to announce Hossam El Zanaty as sporting director after board meeting

Zamalek are close to appointing Hossam El Zanaty as their new sporting director, with an official announcement potentially due on Thursday.

The club’s board, chaired by Hussein Labib, held a meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss several matters, including plans for a football company and the appointment of a replacement for former sporting director John Edward.

The final details of an agreement with El Zanaty were discussed during the meeting, according to FilGoal.com. El Zanaty previously worked as assistant sporting director at Danish club Nordsjælland.

Zamalek’s media department director Maher Gharib had earlier said El Zanaty was nearing a move to take up the sporting director’s role at the club.

El Zanaty has already held a meeting with Edward, who previously occupied the position at Zamalek. The purpose of that meeting was to give El Zanaty information about the squad and the club before a final decision was made on whether he would succeed Edward.

The pair also discussed the club’s financial situation and the contracts of its players.

The meeting with Edward was not El Zanaty’s first discussion with Zamalek officials. He had previously held meetings with the club’s football director Abdel Nasser Mohamed and members of the board, according to FilGoal.com.

Edward left his position as sporting director after only one season in the role, during which Zamalek won the league title.

The board has also decided to call an extraordinary general assembly in December. One of the main items on the agenda will be the creation of Zamalek’s football company.

Under the proposed structure, the investor’s share would be greater than the club’s share.

The meeting took place on the eve of Zamalek’s Egyptian Premier League fixture against Al Mokawloon Al Arab, scheduled for Wednesday evening in the eighth round of the competition.