Wael Gomaa appointed football director as Al Ahly make widespread leadership changes

In a decisive bid to reset their football operations, Al Ahly’s board of directors has rolled out an extensive package of administrative and technical reforms aimed at rebuilding the club ahead of a pivotal new season.

Led by the iconic Mahmoud El-Khatib, the changes come just hours after the club confirmed the end of Danish coach Jess Thorup’s tenure as head of the first-team technical staff, along with farewells to general coach Adel Mustafa and football director Walid Salah El Din.

The moves signal a clear desire for fresh direction at Egypt’s most decorated club. Rather than incremental tweaks, the hierarchy has chosen wholesale restructuring across multiple departments, seeking to inject renewed energy into a football setup that will be expected to challenge on all fronts both domestically and in Africa.

Wael Gomaa handed pivotal director role

Central to the overhaul is the appointment of club legend Wael Gomaa as the new football director for the first team, stepping into the position vacated by Walid Salah El Din.

The former defender brings deep institutional knowledge and a winning mentality forged during his playing days at the club. In a parallel shift, Walid Soliman was thanked for his efforts after completing his spell as head of the youth sector.

These high-profile exits and arrivals set the tone for a busy period of transition. Al Ahly’s leadership clearly believes that stability at the top of the football pyramid must be rebuilt from the ground up if the club is to reclaim its traditional dominance.

Youth, contracts and women’s game reshaped

Further down the structure, several key roles have been reassigned to strengthen the club’s long-term foundations. Mohamed Youssef takes charge of the youth sector, tasked with ensuring a smoother pipeline of talent from the academy into the senior squad.

Essam Serag El-Din assumes responsibility for the contracts department, a critical brief given the complex negotiations that define modern football.

The women’s game has not been overlooked. Shadi Mohamed has been named director of the women’s football department, while Ahmed Ramadan steps in as the team’s technical director. These appointments reflect Al Ahly’s growing commitment to developing the women’s section as a serious force in Egyptian and continental competition.

Meanwhile, supervision of the Delphi team has been assigned to Hisham Hanafi, with Samer Abdel Rahman appointed as its technical director.

On the broader academy front, Abdel Moneim Shatta will now oversee operations, ensuring consistency in coaching philosophy and player development from the earliest age groups.

Comprehensive plan to restore glory

Taken together, these decisions form part of a meticulously crafted strategy to modernise every layer of Al Ahly’s football ecosystem. The club that has dominated Egyptian football for decades appears determined not to rest on past achievements.

By installing trusted former players and experienced administrators in key positions, the board hopes to create a more cohesive, professional environment that aligns youth development, senior performance, and commercial objectives.

The timing is significant. Coming immediately after the conclusion of the previous campaign, the changes give the new structure several weeks to bed in before pre-season training intensifies.

Supporters will be watching closely to see whether this administrative reset translates into improved results on the pitch, particularly in the African Champions League where Al Ahly have historically set the benchmark.