By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
May 31 – In what is one of the more bizarre performance-related sackings of a top manager, irritable president of Egyptian club Zamalek Murtada Mansour fired Swiss coach Christian Gross soon after his side drew 1-1 against Al-Entag in an Egyptian Premier League tie on Thursday.
Zamalek are currently third in the EPL table with two postponed matches, but lost two points in the hot title race with arch-rival Al-Ahly.
Murtada, the controversial chief of the Cairo giants, hit out hard at the Swiss tactician, claiming Gross is and infidel, failed, unjust and criminal.
Ironically, three days Murtada’s, Gross led Zamalek to the CAF Confederation Cup title following 16 years of continental title drought for the white nights. Zamalek beat RS Berkane of Morocco 1-0 in Borg Al-Arab stadium in Alexandria where 80,000 enthusiastic Zamalek fans attended, taking the two-legged final to a penalty shoot-out which they won 5-3.
Following the final Murtada had announced that Gross’ contract was over but it seems his influential son, Ameer, who is the footballing director and the supervisor of Zamalek senior team, convinced his always-angry father to call-off the decision and let Gross continue.
But not for long. The Zamalek president announced Gross’ departure on the Zamalek Today TV show, branding him an infidel.
Zamalek fans, launched a hashtaq on twitter supporting the Swiss coach.
Contact the writer of this story, Abdelaziz Abuhamar, at moc.l1734845278labto1734845278ofdlr1734845278owedi1734845278sni@o1734845278fni1734845278