Hossam Hassan sacked as Egypt manager after public disputes with ex-wives

Hossam Hassan has been dismissed as manager of Egypt following months of public controversy involving his former wives.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) removed the 60-year-old and his entire coaching staff from their positions on Saturday, during a meeting of its executive committee. The decision came two days before the national team was due to begin its training camp on Monday.

Ali Maher has been appointed as Hassan’s successor with immediate effect. He will take charge of Egypt’s matches against Malawi on 13 and 17 November in the third and fourth rounds of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The change in management follows a ruling by Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation preventing Hassan from appearing in public. The ban was imposed after he was found to have breached rules concerning the protection of privacy.

That restriction effectively prevented him from carrying out his responsibilities as national team manager, particularly with the announcement of his squad expected shortly.

Hassan, a three-time African champion in 1986, 1998 and 2006, had been at the centre of repeated controversies relating to public morality since returning from the 2026 World Cup.

He led Egypt to a historic last-16 meeting with Argentina at the tournament, with Argentina going on to become finalists.

In the months that followed, details of Hassan’s disputes with his two former wives were widely broadcast and discussed on television, radio and social media. The issues became a continuing source of public debate.

According to journalist Micky Jnr, the EFA had asked Hassan to stop discussing his private life publicly and to focus on his duties as manager.

However, photographs involving his former wives were subsequently leaked, creating what became a decisive moment in his relationship with the country’s football authorities.

Micky Jnr also reported that senior Egypt players had become unhappy with the situation. Other former national team greats criticised Hassan, while women’s rights advocates in Egypt expressed their anger at the controversy.

Hassan’s dismissal brings an end to his time in charge of the Pharoahs just before the next stage of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Maher will now oversee the squad for the two matches against Malawi, beginning with the first game on 13 November.