Pacheco Zamalek appointment as replacement for Patrice Carteron way too long for Portuguese
Zamalek SC have finally ended their search for a new boss since the departure of Patrice Carteron, now settling on former manager Jaime Pacheco to replace the French International at the managerial affairs in Cairo.
Carteron left the Egyptian giants last week in what was a surprise for Zamalek officials while he was still contracted until end of 2020/2021 season that is expected to start after ending of the current term. In the current term, Al Ahly lead the Egyptian Premier League table with 76 points and have already been crowned champions.
Since the Carteron’s departure to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Taawoun, a couple of coaches have been linked with the Zamalek hot seat- that has seen rampant incomings and outgoings of managers in the last decade.
In the course of Zamalek’s quest to replace their former boss, the Egyptian Premier League side seized the numerous names that had been associated with their coaching job to only four, comparatively with Jesualdo Ferreira, Gabriel Calderon, Hugo Broos and Jaime Pacheco emerging favorites.
Pacheco however has climbed top of the ladder, beating Ferreira who turned down the chance to join Zamalek and former Cameroon manager Broos to the competition, after Zamalek finally confirming the Portuguese International as their new head coach.
The African giants through chairman Mortada Mansour confirmed the deal on club’s TV Channel on Wednesday while Pacheco will sign a year contract.
“Pacheco will sign a one-year contract,” Mansour said on Zamalek TV, and could be given additional years of extension after expiration of his initial contract.
But that can only happen when the 62-year old reap success both on the local and continental campaigns especially in the Caf Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.
Zamalek’s continental campaign in the last three seasons meanwhile has been embraced with two major opinions among supporters and Sports pundits across Africa.
The Egyptian giants lifted the 2018-2019 Caf Confederation Cup, and despite that mile of such a remarkable achievement in African Inter Club football, most fans and pundits rated the success below standard leading to the sack of Swiss boss Christian Gross.
Zamalek appointed Micho Sredojević in August 2019 to replace Gross but that development lasted for only five months when the current Zambian coach started diminishing in the Caf Champions League with his sack coming few days after Zamalek’s heavy defeat to former champions TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.
Departed Carteron replaced Micho at Cairo last year December, and Zamalek’s continental campaign since the French’s appointment is all seen but with smiles and boosted confidence in the club’s fraternity.
Maybe, that is because of the way the Egyptian side went about their CAF Inter Club competition after Carteron first guiding his men to qualify for quarter finals football of the African club elite football.
Before their first leg game of Champions League quarter finals, Zamalek overpowered the most then difficult opponents in African Inter Club football, whipping 2019 Caf Champions League winners Esperance de Tunis to clinch the 2020 African Super Cup.
Few days later, the Super Cup holders crushed out yet Esperance de Tunis in quarter finals of the Champions League to reach the competition’s semifinals for first time in couple of years with most Zamalek fan praising Carteron for very well job done.
Pacheco now has a big job to do at Zamalek if he wants continue his club’s fruitful campaign in the CAF Champions League. The big of tests will start next month when Zamalek take on Raja Casablanca in the Champions League semifinals.
Connect with Futball Surgery
