The Egyptian Football Association has appointed Argentinean Hector Cuper as the new manager of its national team. The 59-year-old previously led Valencia to the Champions League final in 2000 and 2001, and in 2003 he finished second in Serie A with Inter Milan. He takes over a squad that has failed to qualify for the last three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt has won the biannual tournament a record seven times. The side has been without a full-time manager since American Bob Bradley quit in late 2013, after the Pharoahs failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The new coach vowed to redeem Egypt’s winning rhythm.
“My goal is to build a new team for Egypt and to make it capable of regaining its winning rhythm,” Cuper told the press at his official presentation as national coach on Tuesday.
“I will do my best to help the Pharaohs regain their former glory,” he added.
The seven-time African champions have failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations since 2010, when they clinched their last continental title under the guidance of Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata.
In a surprise move, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) last week announced that they had reached a final agreement with Hector Cuper to replace sacked coach Shawki Gharib, dismissed after Egypt failed to qualify for the Africa Cup for the third time in a row.
Cuper, 59, has officially signed a three-year contract with the EFA until the end of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
