Zamalek appoint former Iraq boss Jorvan Viera as new head coach following the departure of Hassan Shehata.
The majority of Egyptians expected Zamalek to appoint former coach Hossam Hassan, the impressive Tarek Yehia or even Helmy Toulan as Hassan Shehata’s successor. Instead, the late entrant to the race, former Iraq boss Jorvan Viera sealed the job.
The 59-year-old Brazilian coach, who led Iraq to winning the 2007 Asian Cup, arrived to Cairo and met Zamalek’s president on Friday evening before finalizing the deal to become Zamalek’s new coach.
Zamalek board member, Ibrahim Youssef told Al-Ahram on Friday, “Vieira has signed a one-year contract tonight.” “He will earn $30,000 as a monthly salary,” Youssef added.
Viera is confident he’s the right man for the job, and said he’s already familiar with the squad, “I know everything about Zamalek because I watched their last games in the Champions league,” Vieira told reporters after arriving at the Cairo airport. “I am aware of the team’s current situation, or else I wouldn’t have come to Cairo,” he added.
The Whites‘ board has shown complete faith in their new coach, in order to boost his self-esteem ahead of his difficult mission. Especially after Viera promised to help qualify Zamalek to the CAF Champions League semi-finals, “We will make it into the semi-finals, with the right effort.” He added, “Hassan Shehata is a great manager and I hope I would be able to lead the team in the right direction after him.”
Ismail Youssef is set to remain as assistant coach, while Osama Nabieh and Ayman Taher will work with the club’s goalkeepers.
More on Viera:
Jorvan Viera has coached over 26 clubs and 5 national teams so far. Most remember him during his time as Iraq’s coach from 2007-2009, but little knew he had a short spell with Ismaily SC in Egypt in 2001 – failing to prove himself and left after only six months.
On Friday, after being appointed as Zamalek’s new coach, he said, “The (Ismaily) board always interfered in my work, I was given very little authority and left after 6 months.”
Viera’s managerial achievements:
- FAR Rabat: Botola (Moroccan League) – 1987, 89; Moroccan Cup – 1986
- Al Qadisiya: Kuwaiti Premier League – 1999
- Al Nasr Salalah: Sultan Qaboos Cup (Oman) – 2005
- Iraq: AFC Asian cup Champions – 2007
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