Ammouta proud to lead Al Ahly, targets trophies
Al Ahly head coach Hussein Ammouta said he was proud to take charge of the Egyptian club and vowed to compete for every trophy as he seeks to meet the expectations of its supporters.
Speaking at his unveiling in Cairo on Tuesday, the Moroccan thanked club president Mahmoud El Khatib and vice-president Yassin Mansour for their confidence in him, describing Al Ahly as Africa's biggest club because of its history and record of success.
"I'm very happy to join this successful institution," Ammouta said. He also thanked football director Wael Gomaa and those in attendance at the press conference, saying the reception reflected Al Ahly's stature.
Ammouta acknowledged the scale of the task ahead, saying he understood that Al Ahly supporters expect nothing less than victories and trophies. "We will do everything we can to achieve the fans' ambitions and deliver a season worthy of the club's name," he said.
The 56-year-old said he preferred to let results speak for themselves, adding that performances on the pitch and trophies would be the best response to any questions about his appointment.
Ammouta also congratulated Egypt and Morocco on their impressive FIFA World Cup campaigns and wished both teams continued success.
He revealed that talks with Al Ahly began about six weeks ago with a phone call from former football director Sayed Abdel Hafeez, followed by discussions with vice-president Yassin Mansour and a series of video meetings before the deal was finalised.
On recruitment, Ammouta said signings would be made solely on merit, regardless of nationality, and that any new arrival must strengthen the squad.
He described Al Ahly's current squad as highly talented, adding that places in the team would be earned through hard work and performance.
Ammouta also stressed the importance of the club's youth academy, saying young players would be integrated gradually to gain experience while maintaining the team's competitiveness.
He concluded by saying he had closely followed Al Ahly in recent months and expected the team's training camps to help him get to know the players better.
He added that the club's passionate supporters and strong infrastructure provide the foundations for success, but that working at Al Ahly requires a personality capable of handling pressure and delivering results.
