Former Zamalek coach Augusto Inácio leaves door open for Egypt return

Former Zamalek coach Augusto Inácio has revealed that he remains open to coaching in the Egyptian Premier League again, provided the right project and working conditions are presented to him.

Speaking on Al-Nahar TV’s Awdet El-Lebs programme, the Portuguese tactician reflected on his time at Zamalek and the challenges he faced during his spell with the White Knights.

“I have no objection to returning to Egypt again if a suitable project and conditions that help it succeed are available,” Inácio said.

The former Zamalek boss described the Cairo giants as one of Africa’s biggest clubs but admitted the squad lacked balance during his tenure.

“Zamalek is a big club in Africa that always competes for championships, but after my time there I discovered that the team lacked balance and suffered from a lack of solutions, which required a complete overhaul,” he explained.

Inácio also pointed to the immense pressure surrounding the club, noting that expectations for immediate success combined with the departure of key players made his task even more difficult.

“There was pressure to achieve immediate results, along with the sale of key players, which negatively affected performance,” he added, while expressing disappointment that he could not continue longer with the team.

The Portuguese coach stressed that every manager needs quality players to succeed, insisting the absence of the right squad profile made positive results difficult.

“Any coach needs high-level players to achieve success, but the absence of the right elements makes results difficult to achieve,” he stated.

Despite the struggles, Inácio praised the attitude of the players during his time at the club.

“I did not face any problems with the players; they tried to implement the instructions despite some difficulties,” he said.

The former coach reserved special praise for club captain Mahmoud Abdel Razek “Shikabala”, describing him as a leader both on and off the pitch.

“Shikabala was a great player and a distinguished leader, as he always sought to help the team and the coaching staff,” Inácio revealed.

“He also played an important role in resolving crises within the dressing room.”

Inácio also spoke warmly about the Zamalek supporters, praising their loyalty and revealing he still closely follows the club’s progress.

“Zamalek fans were very supportive, and I still maintain a good relationship with them and follow the team’s results constantly,” he concluded.