Mido: Mohamed Salah did not cause Hossam Hassan’s Egypt departure

Former Egypt international Ahmed Hossam Mido says Hossam Hassan’s personal problems played a significant part in his departure as national team manager, while insisting Mohamed Salah was not responsible for the decision.

The Egyptian Football Association appointed Ali Maher as Hassan’s successor in recent days.

Speaking in a video posted on his official account, Mido said Hassan’s personal circumstances had begun to affect his work and relationships within the national team.

“Hossam Hassan faced personal problems in his life which had a major and obvious impact on him,” Mido said. “They placed him under great pressure, leading to strong and influential reactions that affected the future of the national team.”

He added: “Hossam Hassan’s personal problems affected his relationship with the players and the media. They also began to affect the management of the national team, and this was clear during the most recent camp.”

Mido said intervention had become necessary once Hassan’s private difficulties began to affect his duties as manager.

“Anyone can face problems that have an impact on their work,” he said. “If the work belongs to that person alone, they will bear the consequences by themselves. But when someone holds an important position such as manager of the national team, there had to be intervention once it became clear that Hossam Hassan was being affected by his personal circumstances.”

Mido also rejected suggestions that Salah, Egypt’s captain, had played a wider role in Hassan’s departure.

“Mohamed Salah had only one role in Hossam Hassan’s situation: he informed Hany Abu Rida, the president of the Football Association, about the players’ feelings and their dissatisfaction with the way Hossam Hassan dealt with them during the most recent camp,” Mido said.

“That is a natural thing for him to do as the team captain.”

Mido said the decision to part company with Hassan had come at the right time, but insisted it should not overshadow his achievements with Egypt.

“The decision to leave Hossam Hassan had to happen at this point,” he said. “It does not diminish in any way what Hossam Hassan achieved with the Egypt national team.”

Mido also expressed confidence that Hassan would return to the role in the future.

“I hope, and I am certain, that Hossam Hassan will coach Egypt again, but in better circumstances, particularly in his personal life,” he said. “There will be a greater balance, and he will be psychologically ready to return to the position of national team manager.”

Hassan led Egypt in 38 matches, recording 21 victories, 10 draws and seven defeats.

He also guided the Pharaohs to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in their history before they were eliminated by Argentina in a 3-2 defeat.