Wael Riyad open to Al Ahly role but insists he must be suited to the job

Wael Riyad says he would welcome the opportunity to work at Al Ahly, but only in a position where he believes he can perform at 100%.

The Egypt youth national team manager, widely known as Cheetos, guided the side to qualification for the African Cup of Nations after they won the North Africa Championship.

Riyad, who has always supported Al Ahly, said he did not believe in taking a position simply as a way of serving the club.

“I have belonged to Al Ahly all my life, but I am against the idea of serving the club in any role,” he told MBC Masr.

“I should serve in the position in which I can perform at 100%.”

He added: “Al Ahly is always in front of me, but there has previously been no contact with the club’s management about working in any position.”

Riyad is preparing to lead Egypt at the African Youth Championship in Ghana in February 2027. The tournament will also provide qualification for the World Cup.

The former Egypt international said his ambitions extend beyond club football and include achieving success with the national teams.

“I have ambitions with the national teams,” he said. “Just as I won the World Cup bronze medal as a player in 2001, I hope to achieve the same as the coach of the youth national team.”

Asked whether he could take up the role of assistant manager at Al Ahly, Riyad said he had not considered the possibility in detail.

“I have not thought about it,” he said. “I am convinced of my abilities and I am always developing myself, but as long as it is within the technical framework and not an administrative one, everything is possible.”

Riyad also identified Manuel Jose and Shawky Gharib as the two coaches who had exerted the greatest influence on his career.

“Manuel Jose and Shawky Gharib are the coaches who have had the biggest impact on my career,” he said.