Egypt appoint Portuguese International Rui Vitória as new manager on four-year deal
The EFA have announced the appointment of Rui Vitória as the new manager of the Egyptian national football team following the departure of Ehab Galal.
The Egyptian Football Federation (EFA) have been in the search for a new manager since the sacking of Ehab Galal earlier last month.
Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa was a front-runner for the job; however, he reportedly withdrew from the job offer after contacting ex-Egypt manager and countryman Carlos Queiroz.
Queiroz had shed light on the events that transpired behind the scenes with the EFA, accusing the latter’s board of directors of trying to tarnish his image and leading the public to believe he is the one refusing to return to the national team.
The next in line was Switzerland’s former manager Vladimir Petkovic, but once again, both parties failed to strike a deal, which forced the EFA to look elsewhere.
Another Portuguese manager came into the picture, namely Rui Vitória, who was also reportedly linked with the vacant Al Ahly head coach role, before the Reds decided to hire his compatriot Ricardo Soares.
And Vitória was the one who accepted EFA’s offer to take over the Pharaohs, despite Saudi side Al Shabab’s tries of hijacking the deal.
Al Shabab had agreed a deal with former Barcelona manager Quique Setién, but the latter reportedly urged the Saudis to pay his taxes in Spain.
This led Al Shabab to withdraw their offer for Setién and start negotiations with Rui Vitória, who had won the double in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr back in 2019.
However, the EFA managed to seal his signature as the Portuguese put pen to paper on a four-year deal that will keep him in Cairo until 2026.
Vitória will arrive in Egypt with four assistants and will become the only second Portuguese to take charge of the Pharaohs after Carlos Queiroz.
Vitória’s last coaching job was with Russian giants Spartak Moscow as he parted ways with the team after only 26 games in charge.
Ahead of his time in Russia, Vitória coached several Portuguese clubs, namely, Vilafranquense, CD Fátima, Paços Ferreira, and Vitória Guimarães, before being appointed as Benfica manager in July 2015.
At the Estádio da Luz, Vitória led Benfica for four years, winning two league titles, one Portuguese Cup, one league cup, and the Super Cup.
He then left in January 2019 to coach Saudi side Al Nassar, whom he led to the double on his debut season, before getting sacked in December of the same year.
