Zamalek have terminated the contract of Portuguese coach Augusto Inacio after days of tension involving a row with the club chairman.
Inacio, who took over as Zamalek manager in April following the dismissal of Mohamed Helmy, failed to guide the team to an African Champions League spot as they finished third in the Egyptian Premier League standings, behind Misr El-Maqassa and Al Ahly.
Zamalek’s disappointing season also saw them eliminated from the 2016/17 CAF Champions league group stage after finishing behind Al Ahli Tripoli and USM Alger in Group B.
The sacking comes one day after the White Castle suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lebanese side Al Ahed in the Arab Club Championship, in which they now sit third – level on one point with Al-Nassr – without a win after they had played out a 2-2 draw with Morocco’s FUS in the tournament’s opener.
Inacio’s departure came on the heels of a clash with Zamalek chairman Mortada Mansour following the White Castle’s draw with Morocco’s FUS, as the 62-year-old coach criticised the club’s management, saying that the recent departures of some key players, namely Mostafa Fathi and Stanley Ohawuchi had adversely affected the team.
Zamalek winger Mostafa Fathi moved to Saudi Arabian side Al Taawoun FC on a one-year loan deal during the summer transfer window, while striker Stanley Ohawuchi joined Saudi side Al-Qadisiyah after his Zamalek loan stint from Wadi Degla ended.
Mansour, however, hit back at the coach, accusing him of lying, saying that Inacio was the one who requested the release of these players.
The row continued as the former Sporting CP coach denied Mansour’s claims and criticised him in a press conference ahead of Al-Ahed’s game before Mansour threatened to file a FIFA complaint against him and accused him of attempting to destabilise the club.
Inacio will receive a month and a half severance from his pay after both sides came to an agreement to lower the three-month termination clause.
Credit: KingFut
