From Al Ahly striker to film actor: the story of Egypt's new coach Ali Maher

Egypt's new national team coach once turned down a huge Zamalek offer, ended his playing career early through injury, and even played a doctor in a movie. Meet Ali Maher, 52.

What happened?

Ali Maher has been named head coach of Egypt's senior team, replacing Hossam Hassan. He takes charge days before two Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Malawi.

He spent more than a decade coaching in the Egyptian league and won the League Cup twice. In March 2017, he had resigned as Egypt's youth team coach, protesting federation officials' interference in picking his staff. Now he returns to the same federation, this time at the top.

The striker they called "the Train"

Maher started at Arsenal Cairo (Al Tersana) and later joined Saudi side Al Ansar. Back in Egypt, he says, Zamalek offered him one million pounds a season, but he chose Al Ahly for 50,000 pounds a year. By his own account, his father was so angry at the gap that he threw him out of the house.

His speed earned him the nickname "the Train" at the 1995 All-Africa Games in Zimbabwe, where he scored twice in a 3-1 final win over the hosts. With Al Ahly he won the African Champions League in 2001 and the African Super Cup in 2002.

The injury, then the cinema

In the 1997-98 season, a collision with Mali goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibe, who was sent off, left Maher with a broken fibula and an ankle injury. Surgeons fixed a plate and screws in his leg, and he went to Germany for rehab. Sidibe later said it was not deliberate and that he apologised.

Maher lost his trademark speed, moved to ENPPI and retired in 2004, aged 30. He then appeared in films, including the 2006 comedy Haha and Tofaha, where he played a doctor who marries the nurse played by Yasmine Abdulaziz.

What's next?

His first test is Malawi. Later he coached players like Trezeguet and Ramadan Sobhy, though his career has also had resignations and clashes with clubs and players.