Mahmoud El Khatib stuns Al Ahly with decision to step aside from club leadership

Mahmoud El Khatib has left Al Ahly fans in shock after formally asking the club’s board of directors to dismiss him from his role as president and confirming that he will not contest in the upcoming November elections.

El Khatib, a legendary figure in Egyptian football, was first elected in December 2017 and secured a second term in 2021. His decision comes at a tense moment for the club.

This season, Al Ahly has struggled in the Egyptian Premier League, sitting 13th on the table with just five points. The poor results led El Khatib to part ways with Spanish coach José Ribeiro, a move that reflected the mounting pressure he faced.

Despite challenges on the pitch, Al Ahly’s financial position remains strong. At the latest board meeting, directors approved a record budget of EGP 8.388 billion, the largest in both Egypt and Africa, alongside a surplus of EGP 45 million from football operations.

The board also tasked Tarek Kandil with preparing the General Assembly report and renewed Khaled Al Awadhi’s contract as Director of Sports Activities.