Shawky Gharib emerges as leading candidate to coach Egypt’s Olympic team

Shawky Gharib is the leading contender to return as coach of Egypt’s Olympic team, with a meeting of the Egyptian Football Association board expected to decide the appointment.

A source within the Egyptian Football Association told FilGoal.com that the board is preparing to hold a meeting to settle the identity of the team’s new head coach.

Gharib is considered the strongest candidate because of his previous experience with the Olympic side. He is also currently working as the Egyptian Football Association’s technical director, a role he took up recently.

“Shawky Gharib is the closest candidate, because of his extensive experience, to be entrusted with coaching the Olympic team, alongside his work as the association’s technical director,” the source said.

The source added that former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary has also been discussed for a position on the Olympic team’s coaching staff.

“Essam El Hadary’s name has been put forward to take on the role of goalkeeper coach for the Olympic team,” the source said.

Gharib has already led Egypt’s Olympic team to one of the most successful periods in its recent history. Under his management, Egypt won the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup and qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

His record with the Olympic side includes 14 victories, three draws and three defeats from 20 matches.

The expected return would mark another senior technical role for Gharib within Egyptian football. Before becoming the Egyptian Football Association’s technical director, he had held a number of coaching positions at both international and club level.

Gharib served as assistant coach of the Egypt senior team under Hassan Shehata from November 2004 until June 2011. He later became head coach of the national team, a position he held for one year between November 2023 and 2024.

At club level, Gharib has managed Smouha, Ismaily, El Entag El Harby, El Mokawloon and Ghazl El Mahalla.

The forthcoming board meeting is expected to determine whether Gharib will take charge of the Olympic team once again, as well as finalise the members of his coaching staff. His previous success with the under-23 side and his current position within the association have placed him ahead of the other names considered for the post.

The proposal to appoint El Hadary as goalkeeper coach is also part of the discussions before the board. No final decision has yet been announced, but Gharib is understood to be the preferred option to lead the team during the next period.