Brazil’s Paqueta starts Zamalek’s mission on Saturday

Zamalek’s newly appointed Brazilian coach Marcos Paqueta will be unveiled at a press conference in the club’s headquarters  Wednesday, and will lead the Whites’ training on Saturday in preparation for the Egyptian Premier League restart.

“Paqueta will arrive tomorrow to put pen to paper,” Zamalek’s football director Ismail Youssef told reporters on Monday.

Zamalek have settled on Paqueta as new head coach to replace Portuguese tactician Jesualdo Ferreira, who led the Cairo giants to a domestic double last season before abruptly leaving a few months into the new campaign.

Paqueta, who has plenty of experience in Arab countries, was chosen by a Zamalek committee drawn up to name Ferreira’s successor, which includes some club icons such as Hazem Emam and Ayman Younes.

“I would like to thank this great legion of fans of Zamalek SC for the caring and support,” Paquetan stated on his Facebook account Monday.

The 57-year-old is reportedly set to earn $40,000 as a monthly salary at the Egyptian champions.

“I’m very happy and I’m going to do everything for Zamalek to shine in Egypt, Africa and wherever they play,” he added.

Youssef said that Zamalek prepared clips of the team in action in order to familiarise Paqueta with their performances.

Paqueta’s notable achievements include guiding Brazil’s U-17 and U-20 to two World Cup triumphs in 2003, both at the expense of Spain in the final.

He led Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal to a domestic treble in 2005, including the league title. Late on, he take charge of the Saudi national team at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where the team failed to book a last 16 spot after two defeats by Ukraine and Spain and an exciting draw with Tunisia.

Zamalek’s games in the Egyptian Premier League have been suspended due to the players’ Olympic commitments. With three matches still in hand, the 12-time Egyptian champions are fifth in the league table with 10 points after four games.

Zamalek will face Haras El-Hodoud on 17 December in their first league game after the restart.

source: Ahram online