Manuel Jose achieves legendary status in Egypt

Millions of Al-Ahly fans adopt Portuguese national team

Raed Rafeh is co-founder of www.el-ahly.com, the largest fan site for Africa’s most successful club side, El-Ahly. In this article he explains the impact made by the remarkable success of Portuguese coach, Manuel Jose, and details how the 60-year-old former Boavista boss has attracted a huge legion of African fans to the Portuguese national team.


Portuguese Manuel Jose, known to his fans as “The King” and “the magician”, is not only considered to be an admirable technical manager who lives in the hearts of all El-Ahly and Egyptian football fans in general since his arrival to Egypt in 2001, but he is regarded as a legend.

A legend that was capable of accomplishing many great achievements, executing impressive performances, developing Egyptian football, and overcoming the hardest tasks. Jose has been the mentor for many stars such as Hussam Ghaly (Tottenham midfielder), Abo Treika, Gilberto and Essam El Hadary. El-Ahly fans consider Jose to be the best coach in the history of the Red Castle.

Manuel Jose, who has broken all domestic and African records, is not only admired by El-Ahly fans, but he was capable of making all the red fans love anything Portuguese.

El-Ahly fans in Egypt, who surpass easily 50 million, owe a great respect for anything that is related to Portugal. It surprised nobody that they were cheering for Portugal in the last World Cup, and in the Euro qualifications, all for “King” Jose’s sake. It has been common to see the flag of Portugal being flown by El-Ahly spectators during El-Ahly games or training sessions.

Jose’s success in Egypt, as well as dominating the African throne, helped the market of Portuguese coaches in Egypt. After Jose, we saw Vingada who coached both Zamalek and the Egyptian Olympic team, then Tony Oliviera, then Manuel Cajuda.

Furthermore, the spectators have been holding banners with Portuguese words or complete sentences. For example, when Jose’s mother-in-law passed away, the fans club of El-Ahly.com website made a Portuguese banner of condolence for Manuel Jose.

Also when “The King” was negotiating to renew his contract, our fans held a poster with Jose’s picture from the 1960s holding all the trophies he has won since he began coaching the Egyptian giants, which sums up to 12 titles.

Finally, it is important to mention that Manuel Jose is not only a coach who came from Portugal to lead El-Ahly, but he is the primary beloved hero of all El-Ahly fans, the legend that will occupy their hearts for years to come. Possibly, there will never be a coach who could occupy that place in El-Ahly fans’ hearts.

Related article: Manual Jose - the Egyptian king