Al Ahly appoint Hussein Ammouta as new head coach on two-year deal

Egyptian giants Al Ahly have confirmed the appointment of Moroccan tactician Hussein Ammouta as head coach of the first team on a two-year contract, marking a major managerial change at the club following a disappointing run of results.

The decision was approved on Monday after a board meeting chaired by club president Mahmoud El Khatib, with Ammouta stepping in to replace Danish coach Jess Thorup, who departed by mutual consent.

The appointment is part of a broader structural review within Al Ahly’s football department, driven by recommendations from vice-president Yassin Mansour and board member Sayed Abdelhafiz, both of whom oversee the club’s sporting operations.

As part of the new technical setup, former Egypt international Yasser Radwan has also been named as part of Ammouta’s backroom staff.

Ammouta arrives in Cairo with a decorated résumé across African and Arab football, built on success at both club and international level.

His reputation was firmly established in 2017 when he guided Wydad Casablanca to the CAF Champions League title, defeating Al Ahly in the final over two legs after a 1-1 draw in Alexandria and a 1-0 victory in Casablanca.

That same season, he also delivered the Moroccan league title, completing a historic double.

His managerial honours also include the Moroccan Throne Cup with FUS Rabat and the Qatar Stars League title with Al Sadd, underlining his ability to deliver silverware across different football environments.

On the international stage, Ammouta led Morocco’s locally-based national team to victory in the 2021 African Nations Championship, further enhancing his standing on the continent.

His most recent spell in charge of Jordan brought renewed attention, as he guided the national team to their first-ever AFC Asian Cup final in 2024, securing landmark knockout wins over Iraq, Tajikistan and South Korea before finishing runners-up to hosts Qatar.

Ammouta also steered Jordan through a strong 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, with the side topping their group in the second round ahead of Saudi Arabia.

His return to club football now brings him to one of Africa’s most demanding environments. At Al Ahly, expectations remain uncompromising, with the Cairo club consistently competing for domestic and continental honours amid intense pressure from supporters.

The appointment also adds an intriguing narrative to his return to the Egyptian stage, given his history of success against Al Ahly with Wydad Casablanca in Africa’s premier club competition.