Former Al Ahly Planning Committee Chairman and former Egypt national team coach Mohsen Saleh has suggested an unexpected solution to Egypt's coaching situation following the suspension of head coach Hossam Hassan and team director Ibrahim Hassan for three matches.

Saleh believes that Mohamed Salah, who plays for Turkish club Trabzonspor, could be the right person to lead Egypt as an interim head coach during this period.

He believes Salah has the football experience, leadership skills, and personality needed to manage the national team and deal with the players during an important stage.

The proposal comes as Egypt prepares for two important matches against Malawi in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, raising questions about who will manage the team while its coaching staff is suspended.

Hossam Hassan Suspension Creates a New Challenge for Egypt

The situation began after FIFA decided to suspend Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan and his brother Ibrahim Hassan, the national team's director, for three matches each.

The decision followed incidents during Egypt's World Cup match against Argentina.

As a result, both officials will miss Egypt's upcoming matches against Malawi on November 13 and 17, in the third and fourth rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

They will also miss the match against Angola scheduled for March 2027.

The suspension involves more than simply staying away from the substitutes' bench.

According to the restrictions explained by Mohsen Saleh, suspended officials cannot enter the dressing rooms or players' tunnel before or during matches.

They are also not allowed to enter the technical area or communicate directly with players during the games.

These restrictions create a difficult situation for Egypt, as the team needs someone who can manage the players, make tactical decisions, and respond to events during matches.

With limited time remaining before the next international camp, the Egyptian Football Association must decide who will take responsibility for the team.

One possible solution is to give the role to a current member of the coaching staff, while another option would be to appoint someone else on a temporary basis.

Latest News

After Thrilling All-Egyptian Battle, Adam Hawal Sets Up Vancouver Squash Final Against French StarWas Hossam Hassan’s Handling of Mohamed Salah Behind His Exit as Egypt Coach?

Mohsen Saleh Backs Salah and Points to Famous Examples

Mohsen Saleh attracted attention after posting a question on his official X account about who should lead Egypt during the three matches affected by the suspensions.

The former Egypt coach then offered his own suggestion, naming Mohamed Salah as a possible interim manager.

Saleh believes Salah has the personal and technical qualities required to take responsibility for the national team during this period.

To support his idea, Saleh mentioned several famous football figures who combined playing with coaching responsibilities during their careers.

His examples included Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, Ruud Gullit and Gianluca Vialli at Chelsea, Ryan Giggs at Manchester United, and George Weah with Liberia.

These examples reflect Saleh's belief that experienced football stars can sometimes take leadership roles when teams face unusual situations.

However, being a successful player is different from managing a team.

A head coach must choose the starting lineup, prepare tactics, make substitutions, and handle pressure throughout matches.

The manager must also make important decisions quickly, especially when the team faces difficult situations on the pitch.

Although some famous players have successfully moved into coaching roles, their experiences do not guarantee that the same approach will work in every situation.

This is particularly important in international football, where national teams usually have limited training time before competitive matches.

For now, Saleh's suggestion remains only a proposal, with no official decision announced by the Egyptian Football Association regarding Salah taking charge.

As the Malawi matches approach, attention will turn to the federation's next move.

The main question is whether Egypt will choose a traditional solution from within the current coaching staff or consider an unusual option that could give one of the country's football stars a temporary leadership role.