CAIRO: French coach Henri Michel has signed a two-year extension to his contract with leading Egyptian club Zamalek, it was reported Thursday.
The 60,000-dollar-a-month deal comes despite the shock exit of the White Knights from the Arab Champions League Wednesday with Al-Faycali of Jordan winning 2-1 in Cairo to reach the final.
Zamalek, winners of the African Champions League a record-equaling five times, were heavily fancied after forcing a goalless draw in the first leg of the semi-final in Amman. The four-year-old Arab Champions League offers a first prize of two million dollars, double that of its African equivalent.
But Michel has revived the domestic fortunes of the Cairo club and they are poised to pip Ismailia for second spot in the national championship behind Al-Ahly and clinch a place in the 2008 African Champions League draw.
Michel guided France to third place at the 1986 World Cup and has also been in charge of Cameroon, Morocco and Ivory Coast at the quadrennial showcase of international football.
